UN urges broad social media reforms and California AG reviews teen safety on TikTok, YouTube

California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta has announced that his office is now examining how TikTok and YouTube could be required to add new safety features for minors under the state’s Digital Safety Act. The move follows a series of hearings and public comment periods that highlighted growing concerns about the mental‑health impact of social‑media content on teens. Bonta’s office is reviewing the platforms’ current age‑verification protocols, content‑filtering algorithms, and parental‑control options to determine whether they meet the Act’s standards for protecting children online.

The proposed measures would mandate that both TikTok and YouTube implement stricter age‑verification checks, limit the visibility of potentially harmful content to users under 18, and provide parents with tools to monitor and restrict their children’s viewing habits. The AG’s office is also coordinating with the California Department of Justice’s Office of the Digital Safety Coordinator, which will oversee compliance and conduct audits of the platforms’ safety practices. Industry representatives have indicated that they are open to collaboration, though they have expressed concerns about the technical and financial burdens of rapid implementation.

If the AG’s recommendations are adopted, California would become the first state to enforce a comprehensive, platform‑specific digital‑safety framework for minors. The initiative is expected to set a precedent for other states and could spur broader regulatory changes across the social‑media industry. The AG’s office plans to release a detailed report on its findings and proposed enforcement actions later this year.