California Governor Gavin Newsom urged state limits on social-media access for those under 16, calling the debate "long overdue." He cited a personal anecdote about teens at a birthday party to illustrate the social and mental-health concerns. Seven state lawmakers introduced a bipartisan bill to set a minimum age for social accounts, though it does not specify an exact cutoff. Newsom said he has discussed similar measures with international leaders and supports "age-gating" rules modeled on Australia.
Newsom Urges State Limits On Social Media For Under-16s, Citing Parenting Experience
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has entered the battle over social media age limits for kids.(Getty Images)
California Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday intensified the debate over minimum ages for social media use, saying restrictions for children under 16 are "long overdue." He raised the issue while speaking at a news conference about public transportation in the Bay Area and repeated his call in subsequent media interviews.
Legislative Push
Earlier this month, seven California State Assembly members introduced a bipartisan bill that would set a minimum age to "open or maintain a social media account." The proposal does not specify an exact age cutoff, but it refers to existing laws that already impose platform obligations, such as posting terms of service, disclosing threat-reporting procedures and maintaining a law-enforcement contact process.
International Conversations
Newsom said he discussed social media regulation while attending international events, including the Munich Security Conference and the World Economic Forum in Switzerland. He told reporters he met with Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and a senior Australian official, both of whom are considering similar steps to limit youth access to social platforms.
Newsom wants state legislation that would restrict access to online platforms for kids under 16.
Personal Experience And Rationale
Newsom used a recent family moment to illustrate his concerns. He said he interrupted a birthday party where seven teenagers were each staring at their phones and "not one of them talking to each other." He argued that the psychological and social costs to young people are mounting.
"As a parent, we need help. We have a generation that's never been more anxious, less free, more stressed and we have to address this issue," Newsom told reporters.
Support And Next Steps
Newsom later told Politico he wants state-level legislation that would restrict access to online platforms for people under 16. His press secretary, Tara Gallegos, said the governor supports "age-gating rules," pointing to systems implemented in Australia as a model. In a weekend social post, Newsom wrote that child predators will "soon lose access to kids on the platforms they use to groom them," and he also directed a political swipe at former President Donald Trump.
Newsom's office and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Help us improve.
