California parents could soon sue for social media addiction

Assemblyman Jordon Cunningham, R-San Luis Obispo, right, smiles after his bill to hold social media companies responsible for harming children who have become addicted to their products was approved by the Assembly at the Capitol in Sacramento, Calif., on Monday, May 23, 2022. If approved by the Senate and signed by the governor, the bill would let parents sue platforms like Instagram and TikTok for up to US$25,000 per violation. At left is Assemblyman Chad Mayes, I-Yucca Valley. — AP

SACRAMENTO, California: California could soon hold social media companies responsible for harming children who have become addicted to their products, permitting parents to sue platforms like Instagram and TikTok for up to US$25,000 (RM109,825) per violation under a bill that passed the state Assembly on May 23.

The bill defines “addiction” as kids under 18 who are both harmed – either physically, mentally, emotionally, developmentally or materially – and who want to stop or reduce how much time they spend on social media but they can’t because they are preoccupied or obsessed with it.