Google, Meta and TikTok sue California over children's social media law

Google, Meta and TikTok have sued California to block a new state law meant to reduce the risk of social media addiction among children under 16.

The Guardian identifies the law as Assembly Bill 1709. It bars platforms from offering minors "psychologically exploitative features" that can lead to compulsive use. Examples include personalized recommendations and autoplay of videos. The Guardian also reports that the law requires deletion of children's accounts that have those features.

The Hill reports that the three companies filed separate lawsuits. It says they argue the law violates their First Amendment rights. The Hill calls the law California's bipartisan "Digital Age Assurance Act" and says it takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.

The reports do not say which court the suits were filed in or what the companies are asking the court to do beyond blocking enforcement.