Governor Newsom Should Sign CA Age-Appropriate Design Code Act into Law

LOS ANGELES (August 31, 2022) – The Parents Television and Media Council(PTC) said that CA Gov. Gavin Newsom should sign into law the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (AB-2273), which would require online services used by children to be designed in ways that are age appropriate. The CA Assembly passed this bill, which now awaits Gov. Newsom’s signature.

“Children’s health and well-being are paramount, and the CA Age-Appropriate Design Code Act is an important step to ensure that tech companies design their products with children’s safety in mind – a common sense measure given the rapid rise of technology in our children’s lives,” said Tim Winter, president of the Parents Television and Media Council.

“So far, the public has only been able to rely on Big Tech’s conscience – an unreliable measure – to protect children from potential harms. Gov. Newsom has a unique opportunity to ensure California leads the way in child protection from technology’s harms and we call on him to sign this bill into law.

“We know that children are being harmed by social media and other digital entertainment platforms, and the consequences are proving to be tragic. A dramatic increase in childhood depression, suicide and self-harm appears exactly to mirror the childhood increase in social media screen time.

“The CA Assembly must also resurrect the Social Media Platform Duty to Children Act (AB-2408) that would hold social media companies liable for harm caused to children. That measure was killed single-handedly by one State Senator – Anthony Portantino – despite overwhelming bipartisan support in both legislative chambers. California lawmakers must continue to lead the way in child safety,” Winter added.