In a move that could fundamentally reshape the relationship between the technology industry and the next generation of users, California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed a sweeping package of 13 laws designed to curb the addictive nature of social media and artificial intelligence. At the heart of this legislative blitz is Assembly Bill 1709 (AB 1709), a provocative piece of legislation that targets the very architecture of modern digital platforms. By mandating the removal of features like "infinite scroll" and "autoplay" for users under the age of 16, California has positioned itself at the vanguard of a global movement to treat digital design as a public health issue.
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The new laws represent a direct challenge to the "attention economy," a business model that relies on keeping users engaged for as long as possible. As the home of Silicon Valley, California’s decision to regulate the "persuasive design" of its most successful exports sends a clear signal: the era of self-regulation in the tech sector is drawing to a close.
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Main Facts: The Scope of the New Legislation
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The legislative package signed by Governor Newsom is comprehensive, covering everything from data privacy to the ethical deployment of AI chatbots. However, the most significant impact on daily digital life comes from the restrictions placed on social media features known to induce compulsive behavior.
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Banning Addictive Design
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AB 1709 focuses on features that remove "stopping cues"—moments that allow a user to pause and reflect on their behavior.
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- Infinite Scroll: This feature allows content to load continuously as a user scrolls down, preventing a natural end-point to the experience.
- Autoplay: Common on platforms like YouTube and TikTok, this feature automatically starts the next video without user intervention.
- Age-Based Ultimatum: Under the new law, social media companies must either disable these "addictive" tools for users under 16 or prohibit those users from accessing the platform entirely.
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AI Companion Regulations
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Beyond social media, the package includes the nation’s strongest regulations on AI chatbots. These laws require companies to implement age-appropriate safeguards on AI "companions," ensuring that chatbots do not encourage self-harm, promote illegal activities, or establish emotionally manipulative relationships with minors.
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Privacy and Exploitation
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The laws also bolster the California Age-Appropriate Design Code, providing enhanced privacy protections that prevent companies from collecting or selling the personal data of minors without explicit, high-level consent. Furthermore, new provisions seek to protect children from online exploitation and the non-consensual creation of AI-generated imagery.
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Chronology: From Innovation to Intervention
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The path to these laws has been nearly two decades in the making, tracing the evolution of the internet from a tool for information to a mechanism for dopamine-driven engagement.
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- 2006: The Birth of the Infinite Scroll. Engineer Aza Raskin created the infinite scroll while working at Humanized. At the time, it was seen as a triumph of user interface (UI) design, making navigation more fluid.
- 2018: The Architect’s Regret. Aza Raskin went public with his concerns, telling the BBC that he regretted the invention. He famously noted that "behind every screen on your phone, there are generally like literally a thousand engineers that have worked on this thing to try to make it maximally addicting."
- 2021–2024: The Mental Health Crisis. A surge in internal research leaks and external academic studies began to link prolonged social media use among teens to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia.
- February 2026: The European Precedent. The European Union utilized the Digital Services Act (DSA) to force TikTok to disable its "Lite" rewards program and investigate its addictive recommendation algorithms, providing a blueprint for California’s legislative efforts.
- August 31, 2026: The EFF’s Warning. As AB 1709 moved toward the Governor’s desk, the Electronic Freedom Foundation (EFF) issued a formal plea for a veto, arguing that the bill’s broad scope could inadvertently cut off vulnerable youth from supportive online communities.
- September 10, 2026: The Signing. Governor Newsom officially signed the 13-bill package, declaring California the national leader in child online safety.
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Supporting Data: The Science of Digital Addiction
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The justification for these laws is rooted in neurobiology and behavioral psychology. Lawmakers and health experts argue that features like infinite scroll are not merely "convenient"—they are designed to hijack the brain’s reward circuitry.
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The Dopamine Loop
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The human brain is wired to seek out "variable rewards." This is the same psychological principle that makes slot machines addictive. When a user scrolls, they don’t know if the next post will be boring or a high-value "reward" (a funny video, a like, or a social validation). This uncertainty triggers a release of dopamine in the ancient parts of the brain. Over time, the brain requires more of the stimulus to feel a baseline level of "normalcy," leading to compulsive use.
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Executive Function in the Developing Brain
Psychologist Octavio Ortega Esteban emphasizes that children are uniquely vulnerable to these designs. "For adults with fully developed executive function, managing these triggers is already a significant challenge," Esteban writes. "For children, whose prefrontal cortex—the area responsible for impulse control—is still developing, it’s a different category of problem altogether."
Autoplay, in particular, exploits this lack of impulse control. By skipping the moment where a person must actively choose to continue, the technology defaults the user into a state of "passive consumption."
The Displacement Effect
Data suggests that the primary harm of addictive scrolling is often what it replaces. This is known as "displacement." When a child spends six hours a day on an infinite-scroll platform, they are not just consuming content; they are not sleeping, not exercising, and not engaging in face-to-face social interactions. Establishing these patterns early in life can lead to lifelong struggles with stress management and attention.
Official Responses: A Divided Perspective
While the intent of the laws is to protect children, the response has been a mix of celebration and concern from various stakeholders.
The Governor’s Office
Governor Newsom’s administration has framed the laws as a necessary intervention against "big tech" overreach. In a statement, the Governor’s office described the bills as "creating the strongest companion chatbot regulations in the nation" and "banning addictive features on social media platforms" to protect kids from "exploitation and abuse." The administration views this as a fundamental parental rights issue, giving families more control over the digital environment their children inhabit.
The Civil Liberties Critique
The Electronic Freedom Foundation (EFF) has emerged as a prominent critic of AB 1709. While acknowledging the laws are "well-intentioned," the EFF argues they are "deeply flawed." Their primary concern is that by forcing platforms to either change their design or bar minors, companies will choose the latter.
"This cuts young people off from essential information and experiences," the EFF stated. They argue that marginalized groups, such as LGBTQ+ youth in restrictive environments, often find their only "safe harbor" in online communities. If these communities are locked behind aggressive age-verification walls or dismantled due to design restrictions, these vulnerable populations may suffer.
The Tech Industry’s Position
While major tech firms have been cautious in their public statements, industry trade groups have hinted at potential legal challenges. They argue that "addictive" is a subjective term and that the laws could infringe on the First Amendment rights of companies to present content as they see fit.
Implications: The "California Effect" and the Future of Tech
The impact of California’s 13 laws is expected to reach far beyond the state’s borders. Historically, when California passes stringent regulations on major industries (such as auto emissions), companies often adopt those standards nationwide to avoid the logistical nightmare of maintaining different products for different states.
A National Blueprint
If California successfully forces a redesign of TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, these changes will likely become the default for all American users. Lawmakers in other states are already watching California’s progress, with similar bills pending in New York and Florida. This could lead to a federal standard that moves away from "persuasive design" toward "human-centric design."
The Evolution of the AI Interface
The regulation of AI chatbots is particularly forward-looking. As AI becomes more integrated into education and entertainment, the requirement for "age-appropriate safeguards" will force AI developers to prioritize safety over engagement metrics. This could prevent the rise of "parasocial" AI relationships that have concerned child psychologists.
Redefining Digital Citizenship
Ultimately, these laws represent a shift in how society views digital citizenship. By focusing on the features rather than just the content, California is treating the digital environment like a physical space. Just as there are safety standards for toys and playgrounds, there are now safety standards for the digital architectures where children spend the majority of their waking hours.
The success of these laws will depend on enforcement and the ability of tech companies to innovate without relying on manipulative tactics. If California manages to stop the infinite scroll, it may well have triggered the most significant shift in internet culture since the dawn of the social media era.
Written by Katie McCaskey. First published September 18, 2026.
Sources:
- “California enacts laws restricting chatbots and banning teens from ‘addictive’ social media,” Cal Matters, September 10, 2026.
- “EFF to Governor Newsom: Veto California’s AB 1709,” Electronic Freedom Foundation, August 31, 2026.
- “He Created Your Phone’s Most Addictive Feature. Now He Wants to Build a Rosetta Stone for Animal Language,” GQ, June 30, 2021.
- “EU says TikTok must disable ‘addictive’ features like infinite scroll, fix its recommendation engine,” TechCrunch, February 6, 2026.
- “Why our brains are wired for addiction: What the science says,” Stanford Medicine, August 5, 2025.
- “YouTube Autoplay and the Psychology of Passive Consumption in Kids,” Octavio Ortega Esteban, July 22, 2026.
