9th Circuit Upholds Most California Social Media Youth Protections

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals largely upheld California's Protecting Our Kids from Social Media Addiction Act, which limits how social media companies can interact with minors by requiring accounts to default to private mode and restricting personalized content feeds without parental consent. The court ruled that most provisions satisfied constitutional standards, rejecting challenges from NetChoice, a tech trade group representing companies like Google and Meta, which argued that the law violated First Amendment rights. However, the court blocked the law's restriction on showing 'like counts' and engagement metrics to minors, finding it to be an unlawful content-based speech regulation that could be addressed through less restrictive means. The ruling also deferred consideration of the law's age verification requirements until they take effect in 2027. This decision marks a significant development in regulating social media's impact on youth mental health, with the court emphasizing California's interest in protecting children from addictive algorithms. NetChoice expressed disappointment, claiming the law usurps parental authority and restricts legal speech online, while California officials have yet to comment on the ruling.