California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a law on Thursday imposing new restrictions on technology companies, prohibiting exposure to features that cause behavioral addictions for children under the age of 16 on social media platforms. It also bans dolls equipped with chat software that uses artificial intelligence and mimics real friendships. This law is part of a package of 13 provisions aimed at protecting minors from the risks of technology, receiving widespread praise as the most comprehensive of its kind in the country.
California Governor Gavin Newsom approved a law on Thursday imposing new restrictions on technology companies, preventing exposure of children under 16 to features that cause behavioral addiction on social media.
The law also includes a ban on dolls equipped with chat software that uses artificial intelligence and mimics real friendships.
These two measures were among the 13 provisions approved by Newsom as a package aimed at protecting minors from technology viewed as dangerous, including providing greater protection for minors' privacy online.
Another measure expanded the scope of criminal penalties against materials involving child sexual exploitation to include any content that is digitally altered or generated by artificial intelligence depicting a person under the age of 18 engaging in sexual behavior.
"The Adam Law" and widespread praise
Newsom praised these regulations as the most comprehensive of their kind in the country. The bill is named the (Adam Law) in memory of Adam Ryan, a 16-year-old boy who ended his life in April 2025 after allegedly acting on suicidal thoughts that were exacerbated over months of conversations with "ChatGPT" developed by "OpenAI".
"OpenAI" has pledged to improve safety measures in the "ChatGPT" program, which it acknowledged had become "less reliable" as user interaction times increased.
Newsom, a Democrat, stated in a press release followed by news video agency announcing these measures, "We want our children - and all children in California - to grow up in a world where technology supports their well-being, rather than exploiting their vulnerabilities."
Joining a rising wave of American legislation
California thus joins an increasing list of U.S. states taking strict action against business strategies viewed as intentionally designed to cause teenage addiction to social media.