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California enacts strict new rules for teen social media and AI chatbots

By Tech Desk · 2026-09-10 · Updated 2026-09-10 23:30 UTC
A glowing digital shield protects the silhouette of a child in a dark space.
Illustration: Tradingbird

California has enacted a suite of 13 laws regulating social media and AI, including a ban on addictive features for minors and strict safety mandates for chatbots. The signing, which featured the family of a teen victim, marks a significant state-level move to address digital harms in response to perceived federal inaction.

  • New details from GN technics/ai (en-US) reveal that the signing ceremony was held at the Bay Area Discovery Museum in the presence of Maria Raine, the mother of a teen who died after interacting with an AI chatbot. The report highlights that the legislation includes a ban on persistent conversational memory by default and a mandate for schools to develop digital wellness plans by 2028.

    Source: GN technics/ai (en-US)

  • Governor Newsom signed a package of laws restricting addictive features for under-16s and mandating safety audits for AI companies, sparking debate over privacy and access.

    Source: Engadget
Based on reporting by Engadget and GN technics/ai (en-US), compiled by the Tradingbird desk.

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