California Lawmaker Considers Australia-Style Social Media Ban

Jan. 6, 2026, 9:04 PM UTC

A California state lawmaker said Tuesday he is considering sponsoring legislation that would replicate Australia’s social media ban for children under 16 with a regulatory oversight agency.

Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal (D), the second-highest-ranking official in the chamber, said he’s talking with the governor’s office, tech companies, and other lawmakers about proposing such a framework in California.

“The goal isn’t to age gate,” he said in an interview with Bloomberg Government. “The goal is to make our kids healthier, to feel better about themselves, to make sure that they’re socializing.”

Lowenthal visited Australia in December when its social media law went ...

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