Posted: 4:07 PM PST · December 31, 2024
Image Credits: Bryce Durbin / TechCrunch
Judge Allows California’s Ban on Addictive Feeds for Minors to Go into Effect
Late Tuesday evening, a federal judge blocked tech lobbying group NetChoice’s challenge to California’s recently enacted law, SB 976, which prohibits companies from serving ‘addictive feeds’ to minors.
The effect of this decision is that beginning Wednesday, companies will be prohibited from serving an addictive feed to a California-based user they know to be a minor, except with explicit parental consent. SB 976 defines an addictive feed as an algorithm that selects and recommends content for users based on their behavior, and not their explicit preferences.
What Does This Mean for Tech Companies?
In simple terms, this means that tech companies will need to adapt their algorithms to ensure they are not serving addictive feeds to minors. They will also need to use ‘age assurance techniques,’ like age estimation models, to determine whether a user is a minor and adjust their feed accordingly.
The Background on SB 976
SB 976 was enacted by the California state government in response to growing concerns about the impact of social media on children’s mental health. The law aims to prevent companies from exploiting users’ vulnerabilities and addictions for profit.
NetChoice’s Challenge
In November, NetChoice, whose members include Meta, Google, and X, sued to enjoin SB 976 in its entirety, arguing that the law violated the First Amendment. However, a federal judge has now blocked their motion for an injunction.
Other Elements of the Law Blocked by Judge
While the judge denied the motion for an injunction on SB 976 as a whole, they did block other elements of the law. These include restrictions on nighttime notifications for minors.
New York’s Similar Legislation
Similar legislation was passed in New York in June. This shows that lawmakers across different states are taking action to regulate tech companies and protect users’ rights.
What This Means for Tech Companies
This decision has significant implications for tech companies operating in California. They will need to adapt their algorithms and age assurance techniques to comply with the new law.
Impact on Social Media and User Experience
The impact of this law on social media is likely to be significant. Users will no longer be served addictive feeds, which can lead to addiction and negative impacts on mental health.
What Next for NetChoice?
NetChoice has vowed to continue fighting against SB 976. However, with the majority of elements blocked by the judge, it remains to be seen how this challenge will proceed.
Related Topics
- Addictive feeds
- AI
- Apps
- Ban
- California
- Judge
- Law
- NetChoice
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