Three of the biggest names in tech — Meta, Google, and TikTok — are taking California to court over a controversial new law aimed at limiting “addictive” features for teen users. The companies filed separate federal lawsuits Wednesday seeking to block Assembly Bill 1709, which would force platforms to disable personalized feeds and autoplay features for all users under 16 unless accounts are deleted entirely.
What the Law Demands
Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in September, AB 1709 requires social media platforms to verify users’ ages and either remove accounts of minors under 16 or strip those accounts of features California deems problematic. The law imposes steep penalties: up to $50,000 per knowing violation and $25,000 for negligent ones when minors access restricted features. Unlike previous legislation, it offers no parental consent loophole.
First Amendment Fight
Meta’s Northern District lawsuit argues the state is illegally inserting itself into editorial decisions protected by the Constitution. “California Assembly Bill 1709 is California’s latest attempt to flout that fundamental principle and appoint the State as the editor, curator, and controller of online speech,” the company contends. It also highlights autoplay as protected expression, claiming the law forces platforms “to make users take affirmative action” before displaying content.
Google and YouTube echoed those concerns in their filing, noting personalization helps young users navigate an overwhelming volume of content. “Twenty million new videos are uploaded to YouTube every day,” their complaint states. “Without personalized feeds, millions of under-16 users will struggle to find the content that is right for them amongst billions of videos.”
TikTok’s ‘Rock and Whirlpool’ Dilemma
TikTok, headquartered in Culver City, described the law as placing teen accounts between “the rock and the whirlpool” — forcing either mass account deletions or a stripped-down experience. The platform argues it already implements over 50 safety settings for minors and disabled direct messaging for under-16 users in 2020.
A TikTok spokesperson criticized AB 1709 as “a blatantly unconstitutional restriction” that undermines curation practices used across media. The company also slammed the law for disregarding parental rights, saying it “takes away parents’ rights to determine what’s appropriate.”
What Comes Next
With the law set to take effect January 1, all three companies are seeking injunctions while their broader legal challenges play out. California Attorney General Rob Bonta’s office said it is reviewing the filings but remains committed to defending “commonsense laws to protect kids online.” The outcome could set a precedent for how far states can go in regulating tech platforms’ interactions with minors — and whether such rules can survive First Amendment scrutiny.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2026/11/06/meta-google-and-tiktok-sue-california-to-block-teen-social-media-addiction-law/