US states take centre stage in battles for control over social media

About 70% of the US population has a social media account, according to the Pew Research Center, while a 2022 study by the non-profit Common Sense Media found nearly 40% of children aged between eight and 12 have used social networks. — Unsplash

LOS ANGELES: Parents in California could soon be able to sue social media giants for getting children addicted to their platforms under a bill going through the state’s legislature.

It is among a wave of state-level activity aimed at regulating social networks on issues ranging from child safety to political bias, with some lawmakers and campaigners saying national efforts to limit Big Tech's power have stalled.