Regulations aimed at preventing excessive use of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots and social media (SNS) by children and adolescents, as well as their exposure to harmful content, are spreading across the United States. As AI evolves beyond search tools to act as friends or counselors, there is a growing movement, led by state governments, to argue that protecting minors cannot be left solely to corporate discretion.
According to California on the 10th (local time), Governor Gavin Newsom signed 13 cases of bills that include measures to strengthen children’s online safety. Among them, a law related to “companion AI chatbots,” which engage in conversations as if forming ongoing relationships with humans, restricts minors’ usage time and mandates mental health safety measures. If a chatbot detects self-harm risks, the operator must notify parents, and businesses that violate obligations and cause actual harm to children can face legal liability.
Regulations also target AI-equipped toys for children. California temporarily bans the manufacturing and sale of toys with companion chatbots targeting those under 16 years old until January 1, 2031.
SNS regulations are also tightening. Platforms are prohibited from providing “addictive features,” such as infinite scrolling or auto-play, designed to increase usage time for users under 16 years old. Platforms must take reasonable steps to ensure these features are not offered to minors.
The regulatory momentum is not limited to California. The nonprofit research organization Future Privacy Forum (FPF) revealed that nearly 100 cases of chatbot regulation-related bills were proposed in 34 U.S. states this year. Laws have already been enacted in Connecticut, Colorado, Georgia, New York, and Oregon. While state-specific regulations vary, key elements include protecting minors, responding to self-harm risks, disclosing interactions with AI, and strengthening parental control.
As AI chatbots develop to form human-like relationships and retain users for longer periods, experts predict the scope of regulation will expand
