California Enacts Nation's Strongest Child Safety Laws for Social Media and Chatbots
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed 13 bills on September 10 to protect children from social media and AI chatbots. The package includes Adam's Law, which restricts chatbot interactions for minors and requires operators to report self-harm threats to parents.
What Happened
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law on Thursday, September 10, new tech company restrictions barring children under 16 from exposure to behaviorally addictive features on social media platforms and banning toys containing AI companion chatbots. The two measures were among 13 bills Newsom enacted as a package designed to safeguard young people from technology seen as putting them at risk, including greater online privacy protection for minors.
Key Provisions
- The law will impose time limits for minors and require built-in mental health resources, and will also mandate safety plans for chatbots.
- If a chatbot detects a threat of self-harm, the chatbot operator will be required to alert parents.
- Tech companies will be penalized if found guilty of harming children, with a fine of up to $1 million per child.
- Social media platforms are prohibited from knowingly providing an addictive feed to a minor without parental consent.
Practical Implications for Expats and Families
If you are relocating to California or anywhere in the US with school-age children, these laws establish new protections for your kids online. Adam's Law was named after California teen Adam Raine, who died by suicide in 2025 after receiving tips from ChatGPT. Parents should understand that social media platforms and chatbot operators now face strict liability if they fail to implement safety measures. These rules apply statewide in California and may influence similar protections in other states. If your children use chatbots or social media, familiarize yourself with how platforms are implementing parental controls and monitoring features.
Sources
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