California Governor Signs Digital Literacy Laws While Pursuing Social Media Age Restrictions
Governor Newsom approved a dozen bills targeting youth online safety, including two education-focused measures that the Electronic Frontier Foundation backed as constitutional alternatives to restrictive bans.
Yesterday, Governor Newsom signed legislation comprising 12 measures framed around safeguarding minors on the internet. The package included AB 1709, which the Electronic Frontier Foundation has actively opposed during this legislative session due to its effect as a de facto prohibition on social media access for those under 16. At the same time, the governor approved two bills that earned EFF support: AB 2071 and AB 2298. These measures mandate instruction in digital literacy and cybersecurity for students. The organization views these two statutes as legitimate and constitutionally sound approaches for California to respond to genuine concerns surrounding young people's online behavior while preserving First Amendment protections.
Rather than imposing sweeping restrictions, AB 2071 and AB 2298 tackle internet safety through instructional methods instead of suppression. The internet serves young people in capacities extending beyond leisure—it enables them to participate in civic life, pursue learning, express themselves, and build connections, particularly for marginalized youth without adequate offline support networks. Genuine digital protection emerges from readiness and knowledge, not seclusion. Empirical evidence demonstrates that transparent discussions about digital literacy and data privacy involving trusted mentors prove substantially more protective for adolescents than restrictive regulatory frameworks. The student community itself has signaled this priority; AB 2071 was developed collaboratively by student authors who sought expanded tools for navigating digital environments responsibly.
Education vs. Censorship
AB 2071 and AB 2298 address significant voids in California's educational programming by furnishing learners with practical competencies. AB 2071 incorporates digital wellness instruction into secondary health curricula, instructing pupils to recognize problematic technology use patterns, maintain personal security, and assess digital material—including content created by artificial intelligence—for truthfulness and impartiality. AB 2298 incorporates data protection instruction into suggested school curricula, preparing students to defend their information against digital dangers.
Though California's movement toward social media age restrictions represents a counterproductive policy approach, the enactment and signing of AB 2071 and AB 2298 demonstrate an alternative path exists. Legislators should abandon reliance on censorship as a convenient remedy and instead prioritize approaches grounded in constitutional principles that equip young people with the knowledge and capabilities required for digital success.
Source: Electronic Frontier Foundation (Deeplinks / Updates)