SACRAMENTO – The Kids Code Coalition applauded today’s final passage of California Assembly Bill 56, the social media warning labels bill authored by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan and sponsored by Attorney General Rob Bonta and Common Sense Media, passed both chambers of the legislature and now heads to Gov. Gavin Newsom for his signature.
The Kids Code Coalition hosted the bill’s author and sponsors for a virtual press conference earlier this year to emphasize the need for urgent action to address the youth mental health crisis and to highlight nationwide momentum in support of warning labels.
“Common Sense Media deeply appreciates Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan and the entire California legislature for passing this bill to establish warning labels on addictive social media platforms,” said Jim Steyer, Founder and CEO of Common Sense Media. “We sponsored this bill with Attorney General Bonta to raise awareness among young people about the serious risks that can come from spending so much time on social media sites, similar to the warnings we issue for tobacco and alcohol. This is just one step but a very important step for California to take to protect kids’ well-being, and we strongly encourage Governor Newsom to stand with kids and families in his state and sign this bill into law.”
“California legislators have taken another crucial step to improve young people’s experiences online by requiring clear warning labels on social media platforms. Warning labels are a proven public health tool that can provide parents and kids vital information about the serious risks these platforms pose to youth development and mental wellbeing and connect them with critical resources. This legislation represents the kind of decisive leadership California families deserve in the face of Big Tech’s continued resistance to transparency. We applaud the bill’s author, Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, for prioritizing children’s safety and now urge Governor Newsom to sign this essential bill into law,” said Tech Oversight California spokesperson Marjorie K. Connolly.
Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy continues to call on Congress to pass legislation requiring warning labels on social media, which he has warned presents a “profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.” Despite a lack of federal progress, states have stepped up to answer that call: New York and Minnesota passed warning labels laws earlier this year and Colorado passed a social media warning labels law in 2024.
The Kids Code Coalition is a wide-ranging group of national and state organizations dedicated to improving youth online security and privacy by supporting policies that ensure companies prioritize kids’ and teens’ safety and developmental needs when designing digital platforms and products.
###