California Assembly Bill 1709 would ban anyone under 16 from social media and require age verification through personal information submission — the Assembly passed it in May and it's now in the Senate. EFF and other civil liberties groups oppose it, arguing the ban would cut off young people from community networks and information resources without solving underlying harms. The debate mirrors similar proposals in the UK and Australia, with supporters citing child safety but critics warning of unintended consequences for digital access and youth autonomy.