Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Fox Channels May Go Dark on YouTube TV From Wednesday Over Payment Dispute

13 hours ago

California Republicans Sue to Block Congressional Redistricting Plan

14 hours ago

Leaders, Journalist Groups React to Israeli Gaza Strike That Killed Five Journalists

17 hours ago

Trump To Sign Executive Order Directing AG To Prosecute Flag Desecration

19 hours ago

Trump Signs Orders Aimed At Ending Cashless Bail Policies

19 hours ago

Fresno County DUI Crash Sends Car Into Embankment Near Highway 99

22 hours ago

Wrongly Deported Migrant Abrego Again Detained by US Immigration Officials

22 hours ago

Fresno County Wildfire Burns 3,338 Acres, Evacuation Orders Issued

22 hours ago
California Could Require Parents' OK for Social Media Access
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 6 years ago on
September 12, 2019

Share

SACRAMENTO — California is considering tightening the rules for children under 13 using social media.
The state Senate voted 31-4 on Thursday to require social media companies to first get the consent of a parent or guardian before creating an account for a child the company knows is under 13.
Federal law already requires social media companies to get permission from parents for collecting data children under 13. That’s why most social media companies, including Facebook, already ban children under 13 from creating accounts.
But the bill moving through the California Legislature would also extend those protections to children creating social media accounts.
“Social media is powerful, and it’s also very, very dangerous,” Democratic state Sen. Susan Rubio said. “It is a real threat to our children.”

Concern for LGBT Youth

But Democratic Sen. Scott Wiener says the bill would harm LGBT youth who live in abusive households by isolating them from others like them.
“These kids without access to the internet are quickly cut off from any hope of understanding that there is hope for them and that there are people like them in the world,” said Wiener, who is chairman of the California Legislative LGBTQ Caucus.
The state Assembly still must approve the bill before sending it to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk.
The bill would give companies several options for verifying parental consent, including getting a signature on a consent form, collecting credit or debit card information from the parent or setting up a toll-free number staffed by people trained to verify the person giving consent is the legal guardian of the child.

Feds Cracking Down on Social Media Companies

Federal regulators have also cracked down on companies who fail to protect kids online. The Federal Trade Commission and the state of New York slapped video streaming site YouTube with a $170 million fine last week to settle a claim that the Google-owned site collected personal information from children without parental consent.
Even though YouTube says it is intended for people ages 13 and older, younger kids often use the site.
YouTube said it will limit data collection on any video aimed at kids, and will promote its YouTube Kids site and app, which require parental consent. The company uses math questions on its YouTube Kids site to verify it is an adult signing in.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

New Fresno EOC Chief: ‘We Have to Eliminate Bleeding Programs’

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Sheriff’s Deputy Arrested in Domestic Violence Case

DON'T MISS

Fresno County Crash With Semi-Truck Leaves Man Dead

DON'T MISS

Fox Channels May Go Dark on YouTube TV From Wednesday Over Payment Dispute

DON'T MISS

California Republicans Sue to Block Congressional Redistricting Plan

DON'T MISS

Two Students Arrested After Fight at Visalia’s Redwood High School

DON'T MISS

Trump Wants to Meet North Korea’s Kim This Year, He Tells South Korea

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Arrest Man After Shooting and Stabbing Leave Two Hospitalized

DON'T MISS

Entz: Bulldogs Must ‘Learn, Burn, Return’ After Kansas Loss

DON'T MISS

Caleb Quick’s Father, Other Parents Protest at Fresno Court to Repeal Prop 57

UP NEXT

California Republicans Sue to Block Congressional Redistricting Plan

UP NEXT

SF Has Avoided Trump’s Ire Until Now. Will He Send National Guard?

UP NEXT

CA Bill To Give Interest On Insurance Payments To Homeowners

UP NEXT

Trump To Sign Executive Order Directing AG To Prosecute Flag Desecration

UP NEXT

Trump Signs Orders Aimed At Ending Cashless Bail Policies

UP NEXT

Judge Blocks Trump From Withholding Funds From Los Angeles, Other Sanctuary Cities

UP NEXT

California Cities Lack Unified Response On Homeless Encampments

UP NEXT

California Voters Still Support High-Speed Rail, Even If It Never Gets Done

UP NEXT

Pew: US Immigrant Population Declines for First Time in Nearly 60 Years

UP NEXT

Gavin Newsom’s Redistricting Plan Is on Its Way to Voters. What You Need to Know

Fox Channels May Go Dark on YouTube TV From Wednesday Over Payment Dispute

13 hours ago

California Republicans Sue to Block Congressional Redistricting Plan

14 hours ago

Two Students Arrested After Fight at Visalia’s Redwood High School

14 hours ago

Trump Wants to Meet North Korea’s Kim This Year, He Tells South Korea

14 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest Man After Shooting and Stabbing Leave Two Hospitalized

14 hours ago

Entz: Bulldogs Must ‘Learn, Burn, Return’ After Kansas Loss

15 hours ago

Caleb Quick’s Father, Other Parents Protest at Fresno Court to Repeal Prop 57

15 hours ago

SF Has Avoided Trump’s Ire Until Now. Will He Send National Guard?

17 hours ago

Lil Nas X Pleads Not Guilty to Felony Charges of Assaulting Police

17 hours ago

Leaders, Journalist Groups React to Israeli Gaza Strike That Killed Five Journalists

17 hours ago

New Fresno EOC Chief: ‘We Have to Eliminate Bleeding Programs’

Steven R. Lewis, the brand new chief executive officer of the Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission, says he’ll be prepared to ax p...

9 hours ago

Fresno Economic Opportunities Commission CEO, Steven Lewis
9 hours ago

New Fresno EOC Chief: ‘We Have to Eliminate Bleeding Programs’

Fresno County sheriff’s deputy Jaime Mendoza, 30, was arrested Monday, August 25, 2025, on suspicion of domestic violence, officials said. (Fresno County SO)
9 hours ago

Fresno County Sheriff’s Deputy Arrested in Domestic Violence Case

fresno
13 hours ago

Fresno County Crash With Semi-Truck Leaves Man Dead

YouTube app is seen on a smartphone in this illustration taken, July 13, 2021. (Reuters File)
13 hours ago

Fox Channels May Go Dark on YouTube TV From Wednesday Over Payment Dispute

California Governor Gavin Newsom, along with local congressional representatives, state officials and supporters, speaks as he announces the redrawing of California's congressional maps, calling on voters to approve a ballot measure, in response to a similar move in Texas being supported by U.S. President Donald Trump, in Los Angeles, California, U.S., August 14, 2025. (Reuters File)
14 hours ago

California Republicans Sue to Block Congressional Redistricting Plan

14 hours ago

Two Students Arrested After Fight at Visalia’s Redwood High School

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the Oval Office, at the White House, in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 25, 2025. (Reuters/Brian Snyder)
14 hours ago

Trump Wants to Meet North Korea’s Kim This Year, He Tells South Korea

14 hours ago

Fresno Police Arrest Man After Shooting and Stabbing Leave Two Hospitalized

Search

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Send this to a friend