# Google, Meta and TikTok challenge California limits on social media features for under-16s

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/google-meta-and-tiktok-are-all-suing-california-to-block-social-media-law-intended-to-help-kids/
- Published: 2026-11-05T20:42:28+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T20:48:28+00:00
- Original publisher: Engadget
- Original article: https://www.engadget.com/2308280/google-meta-and-tiktok-are-all-suing-california-to-block-social-media-law-intended-to-help-kids/
- Topics: Trending, Weird & Viral

## Key points

- Google, Meta and TikTok are challenging California’s under-16 social media law.
- The law targets autoplay and personalised recommendations.
- The cases are at an early stage.

## Summary

New coverage confirms that Google, Meta and TikTok have each filed separate lawsuits in California to block a state law restricting certain social media features for under-16s. The legal challenge puts the companies’ free-speech claims against California’s effort to curb features it says can encourage compulsive use.

Assembly Bill 1709 bars platforms from offering under-16s features such as autoplaying videos and personalised recommendations. The companies argue the law violates the First Amendment and Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act; the Electronic Frontier Foundation has also criticised it on privacy and free-speech grounds. The lawsuits are at an early stage, as the platforms face thousands of other claims alleging harm to children’s mental health; Meta has agreed to pay up to $18 billion to settle a separate case while denying wrongdoing.

## Coverage

- [Engadget: Google, Meta and TikTok challenge California limits on social media features for under-16s](https://www.engadget.com/2308280/google-meta-and-tiktok-are-all-suing-california-to-block-social-media-law-intended-to-help-kids/)
- [The Guardian: Google, Meta and TikTok sue California to block law protecting children from addiction risk](https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/nov/05/california-children-social-media-lawsuit-tiktok-google-meta)

---
Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.