Meta, Google And TikTok Sue California Over Teen Feed Limits
Originally published by AllHipHop Read the original
Meta, Google and TikTok have filed separate federal lawsuits seeking to block a California law that would restrict autoplay, personalized recommendations and other features for users younger than 16.
The companies sued California Attorney General Rob Bonta on November 4, arguing Assembly Bill 1709 violates the First Amendment and conflicts with Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The law is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.
Meta and Google filed in the Northern District of California, while TikTok brought its challenge in the Central District. Each complaint seeks declaratory and injunctive relief before the new restrictions take effect.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1709 in September as part of a broader child-safety package. It bars covered platforms from giving children under 16 access to features the state defines as addictive, including autoplay and algorithmic feeds built from a user’s history and profile. Platforms also must use age-assurance measures.
Meta said the measure tries to “appoint the State as the editor, curator and controller of online speech.” Its complaint argues California cannot override the company’s editorial judgment about how Facebook, Instagram and Threads organize posts.
TikTok called the law “a blatantly unconstitutional restriction on free expression.” The company also argued that California would take a decision away from parents who use its Family Pairing tools, daily limits and Restricted Mode but still allow a teenager to receive a personalized feed.
Google said broad restrictions could disrupt systems designed to steer younger users toward age-appropriate videos. Spokesman Jose Castaneda said, “Overly broad laws like this actually break the systems we’ve built to help kids find high-quality, age-appropriate videos.”
The challenge arrives amid growing legal pressure over youth social-media use. Meta agreed in August to pay as much as $18 billion and strengthen child-safety controls to settle claims tied to teen addiction. TikTok separately settled an Alabama case over allegedly addictive features in September.
California is already defending Senate Bill 976, an earlier law limiting addictive feeds for minors unless a platform obtains parental consent. That case is expected to reach the Ninth Circuit next spring, while AB 1709 removes the parental-consent option for the features covered by the newer law.
The companies are asking courts in Northern and Central California to stop AB 1709 before its effective date. Bonta’s office said it was reviewing the complaints and remained committed to defending California’s online protections for children.
