Urge the California legislature to protect kids online. Studies repeatedly show that social media is damaging to young kids. Since 2007, rates of depression, anxiety, and self-harm have skyrocketed, especially among teen girls. The average teen spends nearly five hours a day on social media. Young people self-report feeling addicted, experiencing damaging messages to their body image and self-esteem from the comparisons and endless scrolling, receiving unwanted contact by strangers, and exposure to harmful content including eating disorders, suicidal ideation, violence, pornography, and drug use.

Children have the right to be children and to parental protection from harmful materials. Establishing the age of receiving a social media account at 16 helps preserve children's social and emotional development and parents' rights to safeguard their children from such harms.

This bill would prohibit anyone under the age of 16 from having a social media account and create an e-Safety Advisory Commission to help the Attorney General and Department of Justice protect minors online. Limiting accounts to older users also gives parents more tools to keep their kids safe. Urge your legislators to pass this critical legislation.