California's Ban on Addictive Feeds for Minors Allowed to Proceed

California's Law Restricting Addictive Feeds for Minors Upheld

A federal judge issued a ruling late Tuesday evening, rejecting a challenge brought by the tech lobbying group NetChoice against California’s recently passed law, SB 976.

This law specifically addresses the delivery of what are termed “addictive feeds” to individuals under the age of 18.

Implementation and Key Provisions of SB 976

As a result of the court’s decision, companies are now prohibited, starting Wednesday, from providing addictive feeds to users in California who are known to be minors.

An exception exists, however, if explicit parental consent is obtained prior to feed delivery.

SB 976 characterizes an addictive feed as one driven by algorithms that curate content based on user behavior, rather than stated preferences.

Age Verification Requirements

Beginning in January 2027, companies operating within California will be obligated to employ “age assurance techniques.”

These techniques, such as age estimation models, will be used to ascertain a user’s age and subsequently tailor the content feed accordingly.

Legal Challenge and Previous Rulings

In November, NetChoice, representing companies like Meta, Google, and X, filed a lawsuit seeking to halt the implementation of SB 976.

The lawsuit contended that the law infringes upon First Amendment rights.

While the judge declined to issue a full injunction against the law, certain aspects were blocked, including restrictions on notifications sent to minors during nighttime hours.

Similar Legislation Elsewhere

It is worth noting that New York state enacted comparable legislation in June, signaling a growing trend towards regulating online content aimed at young users.