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Social media companies could be held responsible for harming children who become addicted to their platforms under a new California bill that just passed the state Assembly on Monday, May 23. Parents could sue the platforms such as Instagram and TikTok for up to $25,000 per violation.
The bill says that kids under 18 who have been both harmed (physically, mentally, emotionally, developmentally or materially) and want to stop or reduce the amount of time they spend on social media but can't because they are too obsessed with it is defined as "addiction." The bill would only apply to social media companies that have made at least $100 million in gross revenue in the past year.
The bill is headed to the state Senate to undergo hearings and negotiations amongst lawmakers and advocates. If the bill becomes a law, it would take effect on January 1st and companies that remove features deemed addictive to children by April 1st will not be responsible for damages. Click here for more.