California Assembly Passes Bill to Hold Social Media Platforms Accountable for Harming Kids and Teens

SACRAMENTO, May 20, 2024—Today, with unanimous bipartisan support, the California Assembly passed AB 3172, critical legislation to help families hold social media companies financially liable when they fail to exercise ordinary care toward children under the age of 18. The California bill, which Common Sense Media sponsored, stipulates specific monetary awards for online harms to minors that are proven in court. In response, Common Sense Media Chief Advocacy Officer, Danny Weiss, issued the following statement:

"Momentum is building across the country against the tech lobby and social media's role in America's youth mental health crisis. We applaud Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal for his leadership on this bipartisan issue, which acknowledges that social media platforms will not stop pushing addictive, harmful features to kids and teens until they are held liable in court and forced to pay for their negligence. AB 3172 will help to defend children and put an end to business practices that have resulted in tragic consequences for young people and their families in California and across the country."

If signed into law, AB 3172 would impose financial liabilities on large social media companies if it is proven in court that they knowingly offered products or design features that resulted in harm or injury to minors. The bill would amend California's negligence law by establishing statutory damages of $5,000 for each instance of violation, with a cap of $1 million per child affected, when parents and other representatives prove in court that their children were harmed because of online practices.

For more information on AB 3172, read Assemblymember Lowenthal's press release and Common Sense Media's fact sheet.

About Common Sense

Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. Learn more at commonsense.org.