The California Assembly has passed a bill that would let parents sue if children become addicted to platforms like Instagram and TikTok. A tech group warns that if the bill becomes law social networks would have to cease operations for kids in the state.
Monday’s vote is a key — but not final — step for the legislation. The bill now heads to the state Senate, where it will undergo weeks of hearings and negotiations among lawmakers and advocates. But Monday’s vote keeps the bill alive this year.
Also, companies that conduct regular audits of their practices to identify and remove features that could be addictive to children would be immune from lawsuits. “There is no social media company let alone any business that could tolerate that legal risk,” the group wrote.