Statement on Unanimous Committee Vote to Bar Children Under 16 from Addictive Social Media Platforms

SAN FRANCISCO, April 21, 2026—Common Sense Media Founder and CEO James P. Steyer issued the following statement after the passage of AB 1709 in the Assembly Judiciary Committee:

"Today's unanimous vote sends a message Big Tech can't ignore: California is stepping in because you refused to. AB 1709 targets a business model built on keeping kids hooked.

Platforms that use addictive feeds and engagement algorithms designed to maximize time on screen should not have unrestricted access to children under 16.

Parents should not be fighting billion-dollar companies on their own. For years, these platforms have studied how kids behave, when they are most vulnerable, and how to keep them coming back. That's a feature, not a bug.

Protecting children from predatory design should not be partisan, and today's vote proved it. Assemblymember Lowenthal brought both parties together to take a real step forward. Common Sense Media is proud to support AB 1709 and looks forward to it reaching the governor's desk."

About Common Sense Media

Common Sense Media is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the research-backed information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the age of apps, algorithms, and AI. We rate, educate, and advocate to protect and prepare kids online. Our ratings, research, and resources reach more than 150 million users globally, over 1.4 million educators, and more than 100,000 schools worldwide every year. Learn more at commonsense.org.