On September 10, 2026, Governor Newsom signed AB 2, AB 1709, and SB 1119 into law, which now serve as some of the strongest guardrails on social media and AI to ensure these platforms actually serve their purpose for young people, not addict or manipulate them.
AB 2 makes social media companies liable for harm they cause to children by carelessness in the management of their platforms, enforcing penalties of up to $1,000,000 per child.
AB 1709 prevents social media platforms from serving addictive features like autoplay and algorithmic feeds to users under 16.
SB 1119 requires AI companies to take reasonable measures to prevent chatbots from simulating an emotional bond with users under 18, prevents AI from serving users under 18 with targeted ads, and requires other protections for children using chatbots.
Together, these bills will help young people reclaim their time and attention from the big tech companies who profit off of our loneliness and isolation.
George Ashford, YPA's Western Regional Director, released the following statement:
"Yesterday, Governor Newsom doubled down on California's commitment to protecting young people from big tech exploitation by signing AB 2, AB 1709, and SB 1119. Shaped by input from YPA and other youth advocates, these bills are among the strongest social media and AI safety laws in the nation, holding big tech accountable for getting young people addicted to social media and taking steps towards preventing AI companies from serving manipulative, human-like chatbots to minors. Big tech companies have made trillions from AI and social media platforms that foster emotional dependency and social isolation among young people. Bills like AB 2, AB 1709, and SB 1119 are how we fight back.
YPA is incredibly grateful to Governor Newsom and the bipartisan group of legislators — Asms. Wicks, Bauer-Kahan, Lowenthal, and Patterson and Sen. Padilla — that spearheaded these bills for their work on behalf of young people. The legislation reflects the approach that young people have been asking for: restricting dangerous design features rather than banning social media or AI outright.
We are excited to continue fighting for policies to combat the loneliness epidemic and empower young people to spend their time and attention on their real relationships and communities."
Background
AB 2 — YPA endorsed the bill and joined coalition letters urging the governor to sign it.
AB 1709 — YPA co-led joint letters to the Senate Privacy, Judiciary, and Appropriations Committees and met directly with legislative offices to turn the bill from an outright under-16 social media ban into a design-based law. Design It For Us, the Electronic Privacy Information Center, TheAttentionStudio, and Youth Power Project worked alongside YPA on that effort.
SB 1119 — The bill reflects YPA's Human-Like AI Framework, built with a range of incredible organizations who also worked on this bill, including Common Sense Media and Transparency Coalition.ai.
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About Young People's Alliance: Young People's Alliance is a bipartisan, Gen Z-led nonprofit with 4,000+ members across 90+ campuses in 16 states. The organization is focused on creating a new American Dream through advocacy on creating opportunity, affordability, and community for young people.
Contact: press@youngpeoplesalliance.org