Google, Meta and TikTok Sue California to Block Child Addiction Law

Google, Meta and TikTok have filed a lawsuit against California seeking to block a state law designed to protect children from social media addiction, according to The Guardian. The law bans social media platforms from providing minors with features such as autoplay that lead to compulsive use.

The three technology companies are challenging the measure in court, arguing to prevent its enforcement. The lawsuit targets legislation that specifically restricts design features the state has identified as contributing to compulsive use among young users, with autoplay cited as a primary example.

The legal action pits three of the world's largest social media operators against California regulators over how platforms are designed for underage users. The companies are seeking to block the law before it can be applied to their services.

The dispute centres on the state's effort to regulate platform design rather than content, targeting features that encourage prolonged engagement. Autoplay, which automatically queues and plays additional videos, is among the functions the law restricts for minors.

For investors, the lawsuit introduces regulatory uncertainty for the platforms involved, as the outcome will determine whether California can enforce design restrictions on services used by minors. The case also signals continued legal resistance from major technology companies to state-level rules governing how their products are built and presented to younger audiences. The companies named in the suit are Google, Meta and TikTok.