Newsom Signs Skinner’s Bill to Protect Kids from Social Media Addiction

Gov. Gavin Newsom today signed SB 976, legislation by Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, a landmark bill that protects California youth from the dangers of social media addiction.

“With SB 976, Gov. Newsom and the California legislature have made it clear: It is our job to protect our kids,” Sen. Skinner said. “Under SB 976, social media companies will no longer have the right to addict our kids to their platforms, sending them harmful and sensational content that our kids don’t want and haven’t searched for. From this day forward, California will be a safe haven, protecting our kids from social media addiction.”

SB 976, Protecting Our Kids from Social Media Addiction Act, requires platforms to have default settings for minor users that prevent kids from being sent addictive feeds, feeds with content that the youth has not searched for, liked or otherwise queried. SB 976 also prohibits platforms from interrupting kids at school and when they’re asleep.

SB 976 was sponsored by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, the Association of California School Administrators, and Public Health Advocates, and supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics and a large coalition of educators, health professionals and advocates for families and children.

With the signing of SB 976, California became the second state in the nation, following New York earlier this year, to enact a law protecting youth from social media addiction. To learn more about SB 976, click here.

Sen. Nancy Skinner represents the 9th Senate District and is chair the California Legislative Women’s Caucus and the Senate Housing Committee.