California wants to force social networks to put children’s health before their profits

Social networks are regularly accused of having harmful effects on younger users, for example by overexposing them to the seemingly ideal lives of other people or to inappropriate advertisements. As such, Californian parliamentarians adopted, on Tuesday August 30, a text intended to oblige these companies, such as Instagram and TikTok or even online gaming platforms, to put the interests of children before their profits. The text must now be signed by Governor Gavin Newsom to become law and be applied in this state which is home to Silicon Valley and its tech giants.

All companies offering online services dedicated to those under 18 or likely to be used by minors “shall take into account the best interests of children in the design, development and provision” of their services, it is stated there. “When there is a conflict between commercial interests and the best interests of children, companies must prioritize the privacy, safety and well-being of children over commercial interests.”

The law, which would come into force in 2024, would require platforms to install settings that offer a high level of data protection for minors by default. It would also prohibit them from collecting, sharing or selling any personal information that is not necessary for the proper functioning of the service.

She also wants to prevent social networks from using any functionality that they know is harmful to the health, physical or mental, of the youngest users.

The California law, the first of its kind in the United States, is inspired by a text adopted in the United Kingdom in 2021. “We have seen through UK law that tech companies can be regulated”, said the main author of the text adopted on Tuesday, Democrat Buffy Wicks, in a press release. If the law is enacted by the Governor, “We hope that this model will be emulated by other American states and other countries around the world”she added.