Tech companies challenge a California law that bans addictive features for children

Google, Meta, and TikTok have filed separate lawsuits against the state of California to block a law that bans addictive features on social media platforms for children under 16, arguing it conflicts with free speech and overrides parental authority.

Google, Meta, and TikTok have filed separate lawsuits against the U.S. state of California in an attempt to block a new law that prohibits providing potentially addictive features on social media platforms for children and teenagers under 16, before it takes effect early next year. According to The Guardian, the lawsuits were filed on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, in federal courts in California. The law, known as Bill 1709, targets features the state classifies as psychologically exploitative, including infinite scrolling, algorithm-based personalized recommendations, and autoplay videos. The legislation bans making these features available to users under 16 and requires companies to delete children's accounts that include such characteristics. The law is set to take effect on January 1, 2027, unless courts issue rulings to overturn or suspend its implementation. In their lawsuits, the three companies accused California of trying to impose its own vision of how content should be regulated and displayed to children, arguing that the legislation grants authorities powers that exceed parental decisions.