New California policies backed by state leaders aim to limit addictive platform features and address rising teen mental health concerns linked to heavy social media use.
Any adult who uses social media understands how quickly it can consume time — and how a negative comment or a post that gets ignored can affect your mood. Now imagine that pressure during adolescence, when identity, confidence, and emotional regulation are still developing.
That concern is increasingly shaping public policy in California.
Governor Gavin Newsom has backed a series of measures aimed at reducing the potential mental-health harms of social media on minors. The effort — described by state officials as one of the most aggressive approaches in the country — focuses on limiting addictive platform features, improving transparency, and giving families more control.
For many Latino parents across California, where youth are among the most active social media users in the nation, the issue feels less political and more personal: how to balance connection with well-being.
Several policies now moving through California’s legislative and regulatory system focus on how platforms design their apps for young users.
Key actions include:
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Support for age-verification requirements that could restrict social media access for children under 16.
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A law signed in 2024, California Senate Bill 976, which limits algorithm-driven “addictive feeds” for minors without parental consent and restricts late-night notifications.
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Legislation requiring mental-health warning notices for users under 18 when setting up accounts and after extended use.
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Earlier transparency rules under California Assembly Bill 587, requiring companies to disclose policies on hate speech, extremism, and content moderation.
Reporting from outlets such as Politico notes that the broader goal is to increase accountability for how large platforms design and manage youth engagement.
The policy push follows growing concern from public-health experts.
A major advisory from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services highlighted the complicated role social media plays in teenage life. Many teens say it helps them stay connected — but research also shows meaningful risks when usage becomes excessive.
Some of the most cited findings include:
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Teens spending more than three hours daily on social media face about double the risk of depression or anxiety symptoms.
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Roughly 45% of teens say social media disrupts their sleep, often tied to late-night scrolling.
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Nearly 46% of adolescents report feeling worse about their bodies after using social platforms.
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Adolescence — typically ages 10 to 19 — is a critical stage of brain development, meaning repeated digital reward cycles may influence emotional regulation and impulse control.
Researchers and the American Psychological Association emphasize that social media itself is not purely harmful; for some teens, especially those seeking community or support, it can provide connection and creative expression.
The risk tends to rise with passive consumption — endless scrolling — rather than active communication with friends.
Why tech companies are pushing back
Not everyone agrees with the state’s approach.
Industry groups including NetChoice argue the laws could violate free-speech protections and create privacy risks if platforms are required to verify users’ ages through government IDs or other sensitive data.
Privacy advocates such as Electronic Privacy Information Center have also raised concerns that poorly designed verification systems could expose families to cybersecurity threats.
Some researchers warn strict restrictions could unintentionally push teens toward less regulated apps.
What experts say families can do right now
Because many of these laws are still being challenged or phased in, pediatric and mental-health experts say families shouldn’t wait for policy to catch up.
Guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics and clinicians cited by the Mayo Clinic recommends:
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Creating a family media plan with device-free times and spaces.
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Modeling healthy phone habits as adults.
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Talking about how algorithms are designed to keep users scrolling.
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Checking in with teens about how certain apps make them feel — energized or drained.
For many Latino families balancing work, school, and digital life, those conversations may matter as much as the legislation itself.
Because the real question isn’t just how social media is regulated — it’s how the next generation learns to use it without losing their well-being.
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