Three of the biggest social media companies want to block a California law designed to reduce youth social media addiction from going into law.

On Wednesday, Google, Meta, and TikTok each filed lawsuits against California's attorney general, Rob Bonta.

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2027, the bill (AB 1709) would prohibit platforms including Google, Meta, and TikTok from providing "an addictive feature" to users under 16. The law describes such features as "psychologically exploitative" and intended to maximize engagement in a way that leads to compulsive use. This includes infinite scroll, autoplay, and an "addictive" feed.

The law also requires platforms to "implement reasonable measures" so that young users aren't offered such features.

The companies argue that the law infringes on their free speech rights, as well as Section 230, a provision of a 1996 federal law designed to shield online platforms from liability related to user content. Critics of Section 230 say it wrongly provides online platforms with broad immunity.

Google claimed in its lawsuit that its subsidiary, YouTube, personalizes recommendations to ensure that young users receive content relevant to their interests and appropriate for their age and developmental needs. The company defended autoplay as helping users enjoy content uninterrupted and sequentially, like a playlist for educational videos.

"AB 1709's bans on personalized recommendations and autoplay would therefore frustrate YouTube's efforts to provide under-16 users with safe, responsible, and enriching experiences on the platform," the lawsuit said.

" Prohibiting personalized feeds and autoplay, would "make it unlawful for Meta to disseminate speech to minors altogether," the company argued .

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