California Embraces Digital Literacy While Pursuing Social Media Age Restrictions

A package of 12 bills received Governor Newsom's signature yesterday, all framed around the goal of safeguarding minors in digital spaces. Among them sits AB 1709, which the Electronic Frontier Foundation has actively opposed during this legislative session due to its practical effect of restricting social media access for anyone under 16. Yet the EFF threw its support behind two other measures that became law: AB 2071 and AB 2298, both of which mandate instruction in digital literacy and cybersecurity for students. These latter bills represent what the organization views as a constitutionally sound approach to addressing legitimate worries about how young people engage online, without infringing on First Amendment protections.

Rather than imposing sweeping restrictions, AB 2071 and AB 2298 tackle the online safety question through instructional approaches centered on knowledge-building. The internet serves young people in ways that extend far beyond leisure—it enables them to participate in civic life, pursue education, express themselves, and build communities, particularly for marginalized youth who may lack adequate support in their immediate surroundings. This reality underscores why genuine digital safety emerges from preparation rather than exclusion. Extensive research demonstrates that candid, transparent discussions about digital literacy and privacy conducted with people young people trust prove substantially more protective than restrictive legal frameworks aimed at controlling content. The student population itself has recognized this imperative; notably, AB 2071 emerged from collaboration with student authors who actively worked to secure improved tools for navigating digital environments responsibly.

Education vs. Censorship

By introducing new material into California's educational framework, AB 2071 and AB 2298 work to remedy significant shortcomings in what schools currently teach. AB 2071 weaves digital wellness instruction into the health curriculum at middle and secondary schools, providing students with concrete methods to recognize problematic technology use patterns, maintain their personal security, and assess digital material—including content created through artificial intelligence—for truthfulness and potential bias. AB 2298, for its part, incorporates cybersecurity fundamentals into the set of recommended courses schools may offer, preparing young people to defend their information from digital risks.

Though California continues down the path of restricting social media access—a direction the EFF characterizes as counterproductive and poorly conceived—the enactment and signing of AB 2071 and AB 2298 point toward an alternative strategy. Policymakers should abandon the notion that censorship provides a solution and instead pursue approaches grounded in constitutional principles that equip young people with the knowledge and capabilities they require to navigate and succeed in digital environments.

Source: Electronic Frontier Foundation (Deeplinks / Updates)