CA
California AB 302 Would Restrict Addictive Social Media Feeds in School Extracurricular Settings
AB 302 would require California schools to notify parents about the risks of addictive social media feeds and restrict students' use of such feeds during extracurricular school activities. The bill passed its most recent committee vote unanimously and is scheduled for another committee hearing on June 29, 2026.
✓ REASONS TO SUPPORT
- Children would be less exposed to algorithmically driven social media feeds designed to maximize engagement during school-sponsored activities, potentially reducing distraction and compulsive use.
- Parents would receive direct notification from schools about the risks of addictive feeds, helping families make more informed decisions about their children's social media habits.
- Limiting addictive feed access during extracurriculars could encourage students to be more present and engaged in sports, clubs, and other activities.
- A unanimous committee vote suggests broad, bipartisan agreement that protecting students from addictive technology is a legitimate school interest.
✕ REASONS TO OPPOSE
- Schools would face new administrative burdens to craft, send, and track required parental communications, potentially straining staff time and resources.
- Restricting social media access during extracurriculars could be difficult to enforce consistently and may be seen as overreach into students' personal device use outside of class.
- Broad definitions of 'addictive feeds' could create confusion about which apps or platforms are covered, leading to uneven application across districts.
- Some parents and students may feel the bill limits personal choice and that decisions about social media use are better left to families rather than mandated by the state.
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