GoKawiilEFF Urges Newsom to Veto California's AB 1709 Social Media Ban for Under-16s
California lawmakers passed AB 1709, which would bar platforms from offering recommendation algorithms and basic follow/like features to users under 16 starting in January. The Electronic Frontier Foundation is asking Governor Gavin Newsom to veto the bill, arguing it effectively locks minors out of most modern digital services by banning tools essential to how those platforms function.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The bill frames core platform mechanics like feeds and follows as 'addictive,' but EFF argues this rests on unsettled science and would strip young people of access to supportive communities, self-expression, and political or religious engagement online. Critics warn such broad bans tend to backfire, pushing platforms toward invasive age verification and censorship rather than genuine safety improvements.
- AB 1709 would ban core recommendation and social features for users under 16 starting January.
- EFF says the bill mislabels basic platform tools as 'addictive' without solid scientific backing.
- Opponents argue the law raises serious privacy and free speech concerns while failing to protect youth.
Free Speech: A History from Socrates to Social Media" by Jacob Mchangama — If debates like the AB 1709 fight have you wondering where the lines around online expression should be drawn, Mchangama's sweeping history traces how societies have wrestled with speech rules from ancient Athens to today's feeds and algorithms. It's an engaging read that gives real context to arguments about platforms, minors, and access to information.
See Free Speech: A History from Socrates to Social Media" by Jacob Mchangama on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: eff.org — Rindala Alajaji, 2026-09-01
Published there as: “EFF to Governor Newsom: Veto California's AB 1709”
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