Injuries to children: civil penalties.

Assembly Members Lowenthal and Patterson propose new civil penalties for social media platforms that cause injury to minors, establishing statutory damages of up to $1 million per affected child through their addition to California's Civil Code.

The legislation targets social media platforms generating over $100 million in annual gross revenue, requiring them to pay the greater of $5,000 per violation (capped at $1 million per child) or triple the actual damages when platform negligence results in harm to users under 18. The bill's findings cite instances of platforms deploying features known to contribute to child injuries and deaths, with associated costs currently borne by parents, schools, and taxpayers rather than the companies themselves.

Under the new provisions, platforms cannot contractually waive this liability through their terms of service, as such waivers would be void as contrary to public policy. The requirements supplement rather than replace existing legal obligations, operating alongside current duties and remedies available under other laws. The measure applies only to cases filed after January 1, 2026, providing platforms time to adjust their practices before implementation.

The legislation builds upon California's existing framework of corporate responsibility for injuries caused by lack of ordinary care, while creating specific parameters for cases involving social media platforms and minors. By establishing concrete statutory damages and preventing liability waivers, the bill creates a defined structure for courts to address claims of platform-induced harm to children.