A.B. 1709 bans anyone under 16 from using social media & forces every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
TAKE ACTION 📞
Tell your California State Assembly member to VOTE NO on A.B. 1709
• Call your state Assembly member: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/ (Voicemails count. Include your name and address.)
• Email your state Assembly member using this form from EFF.org: https://eff.salsalabs.org/stopcasocialban/index.html
California lawmakers are fast-tracking A.B. 1709—a sweeping bill that would ban anyone under 16 from using social media and force every user
See comments for updates. Last updated: June 5, 2026
April 24, 2026:
California lawmakers are fast-tracking A.B. 1709—a sweeping bill that would ban anyone under 16 from using social media and force every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
That means that under this bill, all Californians would be required to submit highly sensitive government-issued ID or biometric information to private companies simply to participate in the modern public square. In the name of “safety,” this bill would destroy online anonymity, expose sensitive personal data to breach and abuse, and replace parental decision-making with state-mandated censorship.
A.B. 1709 has already passed out of the Assembly Privacy and Judiciary Committees with nearly unanimous support. Its next stop is the Assembly Appropriations Committee, followed by a floor vote—likely within the next week.
I will keep this post updated in the comments. Follow post for updates.
AB 1709 passed the assembly and is now in the state senate.
TAKE ACTION 📞
Tell your California state senator to VOTE NO on A.B. 1709
• Call the state senator for your district: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/ (Voicemails count. Include your name and address.)
• Email your state senator using this form from EFF.org: https://eff.salsalabs.org/stopcasocialban/index.html
• Share EFF's article on AB 1709 with friends in California: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/04/act-now-stop-californias-paternalistic-and-privacy-destroying-social-media-ban
After public outrage, California lawmakers are moving closer to exempting open-source operating systems from the sweeping age-bracketing reg
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back: CA's AB 1856 Exempts Open Source But Expands Age-Gating
May 26, 2026
After public outrage, California lawmakers are moving closer to exempting open-source operating systems from the sweeping age-bracketing regime mandated by last year’s Digital Age Assurance Act (AB 1043). Nonetheless, the current bill still jeopardizes internet users’ speech, privacy, and security.
While the open source exemption, if passed, would improve the law, the remaining amendments proposed by AB 1856 would require all web browsers and websites to request and collect users’ ages. This is an expansion of last year's AB 1043's age-bracketing system that compounds its constitutional harms to users’ speech, privacy, and security. As AB 1856 moves on to the Senate, EFF will continue fighting for amendments that reduce those harms.
A.B. 1709 bans anyone under 16 from using social media & forces every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
TAKE ACTION 📞
Tell your California State Assembly member to VOTE NO on A.B. 1709
• Call your state Assembly member: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/ (Voicemails count. Include your name and address.)
• Email your state Assembly member using this form from EFF.org: https://eff.salsalabs.org/stopcasocialban/index.html
California lawmakers are fast-tracking A.B. 1709—a sweeping bill that would ban anyone under 16 from using social media and force every user
See comments for updates. Last updated: May 21 2026
April 24, 2026:
California lawmakers are fast-tracking A.B. 1709—a sweeping bill that would ban anyone under 16 from using social media and force every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
That means that under this bill, all Californians would be required to submit highly sensitive government-issued ID or biometric information to private companies simply to participate in the modern public square. In the name of “safety,” this bill would destroy online anonymity, expose sensitive personal data to breach and abuse, and replace parental decision-making with state-mandated censorship.
A.B. 1709 has already passed out of the Assembly Privacy and Judiciary Committees with nearly unanimous support. Its next stop is the Assembly Appropriations Committee, followed by a floor vote—likely within the next week.
I will keep this post updated in the comments. Follow post for updates.
Passed Assembly. Ordered to the state Senate. (Ayes 76. Noes 0.) Source: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1709
SHOULD I STOP ADVOCATING AGAINST AB 1709?
No. Passage from the Assembly to the Senate doesn't make AB 1709 law. More calls and letters will be needed.
Follow the the AB 1709 master post for updates -> https://www.tumblr.com/gloriagraves/814928148604059648
Check EFF.org for updated actions and coverage of AB 1709 and other age-verification legislation.
A.B. 1709 bans anyone under 16 from using social media & forces every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
Screenshot of Tumblr's k-ID age-verification prompt for UK users.
MAY 29 ASSEMBLY DEADLINE
May 22, 2026: We're in the final stretch. May 29 is the deadline for the bill to pass from the state Assembly to the Senate. The time to call your state Assembly member is NOW.
TAKE ACTION NOW 📞
Tell your California State Assembly member to VOTE NO on A.B. 1709
• Call your California State Assembly member: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/. (Voicemails count. Give your name & address.) Ask friends to call.
• Use this form from EFF to email them: https://eff.salsalabs.org/stopcasocialban/index.html. Share the link.
• Don't know what to say? Read EFF's article on AB 1709 or EFF's email template (after the break):
California lawmakers are fast-tracking A.B. 1709—a sweeping bill that would ban anyone under 16 from using social media and force every user
SHOULD I STOP ADVOCATING AGAINST AB 1709 AFTER MAY 29?
No. Passage from the Assembly to the Senate doesn't make AB 1709 law. More calls and letters will be needed if it continues to make progress after May 29.
Follow the the AB 1709 master post for updates -> https://www.tumblr.com/gloriagraves/814928148604059648
Check EFF.org for updated actions and coverage of AB 1709 and other age-verification legislation.
EFF's email template:
As your constituent, I am writing to urge you to vote NO on A.B. 1709. This bill is a direct threat to the First Amendment, consumer privacy, and California’s fiscal health.
A.B. 1709's requirement that all Californians must verify their ages would force everyone to choose between their privacy and their speech. Requiring biometric scans or government IDs to access social media creates a massive security risk for every user.
The bill also relies on inaccurate and incomplete research regarding the impact of social media. The prevailing social science demonstrates that young people’s experiences online are far more nuanced than A.B. 1709 claims. For many marginalized youth, including LGBTQ+ teens, online spaces are essential for safety and support. A blanket ban ignores these nuances and puts vulnerable young people at risk.
Additionally, I am deeply concerned by the fiscal recklessness of this proposal. At a time when California is facing an $18 billion budget deficit, creating a new e-Safety Advisory Commission is an irresponsible use of taxpayer funds. Additionally, the inevitable litigation costs required to defend this unconstitutional measure will drain resources that should be used elsewhere.
Lastly, family decisions belong to families, not the state. A one-size-fits-all ban on social media for those under 16 ignores the diversity of maturity levels and the specific needs of California’s youth. Parents, not the state, should be the ones deciding when their children are ready to use social media. Please prioritize constitutional rights and fiscal responsibility by voting NO on AB 1709.
Sincerely, $YOURNAME
Passed Assembly. Ordered to the state Senate. (Ayes 76. Noes 0.) Source: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB1709
It's not over. Follow the the AB 1709 master post for updates -> https://www.tumblr.com/gloriagraves/814928148604059648. I won't be updating this post.
A.B. 1709 bans anyone under 16 from using social media & forces every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
Screenshot of Tumblr's k-ID age-verification prompt for UK users.
MAY 29 ASSEMBLY DEADLINE
May 22, 2026: We're in the final stretch. May 29 is the deadline for the bill to pass from the state Assembly to the Senate. The time to call your state Assembly member is NOW.
TAKE ACTION NOW 📞
Tell your California State Assembly member to VOTE NO on A.B. 1709
• Call your California State Assembly member: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/. (Voicemails count. Give your name & address.) Ask friends to call.
• Use this form from EFF to email them: https://eff.salsalabs.org/stopcasocialban/index.html. Share the link.
• Don't know what to say? Read EFF's article on AB 1709 or EFF's email template (after the break):
California lawmakers are fast-tracking A.B. 1709—a sweeping bill that would ban anyone under 16 from using social media and force every user
SHOULD I STOP ADVOCATING AGAINST AB 1709 AFTER MAY 29?
No. Passage from the Assembly to the Senate doesn't make AB 1709 law. More calls and letters will be needed if it continues to make progress after May 29.
Follow the the AB 1709 master post for updates -> https://www.tumblr.com/gloriagraves/814928148604059648
Check EFF.org for updated actions and coverage of AB 1709 and other age-verification legislation.
EFF's email template:
As your constituent, I am writing to urge you to vote NO on A.B. 1709. This bill is a direct threat to the First Amendment, consumer privacy, and California’s fiscal health.
A.B. 1709's requirement that all Californians must verify their ages would force everyone to choose between their privacy and their speech. Requiring biometric scans or government IDs to access social media creates a massive security risk for every user.
The bill also relies on inaccurate and incomplete research regarding the impact of social media. The prevailing social science demonstrates that young people’s experiences online are far more nuanced than A.B. 1709 claims. For many marginalized youth, including LGBTQ+ teens, online spaces are essential for safety and support. A blanket ban ignores these nuances and puts vulnerable young people at risk.
Additionally, I am deeply concerned by the fiscal recklessness of this proposal. At a time when California is facing an $18 billion budget deficit, creating a new e-Safety Advisory Commission is an irresponsible use of taxpayer funds. Additionally, the inevitable litigation costs required to defend this unconstitutional measure will drain resources that should be used elsewhere.
Lastly, family decisions belong to families, not the state. A one-size-fits-all ban on social media for those under 16 ignores the diversity of maturity levels and the specific needs of California’s youth. Parents, not the state, should be the ones deciding when their children are ready to use social media. Please prioritize constitutional rights and fiscal responsibility by voting NO on AB 1709.
Sincerely, $YOURNAME
A.B. 1709 bans anyone under 16 from using social media & forces every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
TAKE ACTION
Tell your California State Assemblymember to VOTE NO on A.B. 1709:
California lawmakers are fast-tracking A.B. 1709—a sweeping bill that would ban anyone under 16 from using social media and force every user
April 24, 2026
California lawmakers are fast-tracking A.B. 1709—a sweeping bill that would ban anyone under 16 from using social media and force every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
That means that under this bill, all Californians would be required to submit highly sensitive government-issued ID or biometric information to private companies simply to participate in the modern public square. In the name of “safety,” this bill would destroy online anonymity, expose sensitive personal data to breach and abuse, and replace parental decision-making with state-mandated censorship.
A.B. 1709 has already passed out of the Assembly Privacy and Judiciary Committees with nearly unanimous support. Its next stop is the Assembly Appropriations Committee, followed by a floor vote—likely within the next week.
There is a hearing scheduled for May 13 in the Assembly Appropriations committee
https://apro.assembly.ca.gov/
Please find your reps involved, send position letters, and give them all the reasons this bill should not pass. Especially focus on potential financial consequences for things like small businesses which rely on social media
Unfortunately, as of May 14th, this bill has passed out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee from the Suspense file into the full Assembly. But that doesn't mean it's time to give up. If none of your Assembly members were in any Committees so far, then now is your chance. Everyone please inundate your Assembly representatives as much as you can to let them know why you oppose this bill, and make your voices heard.
Let them know that Californians don't want to be forced into further Draconian age verification as is currently spreading across the world like a virus. People should not need to sacrifice their anonymity in order to access the social media which keeps everyone connected. Healthy use and parental controls are one thing, but allowing California to slide further into becoming a nanny state feeding our information and identities to Big Tech oligarchs on a platter is a whole other matter which we cannot and should not stand for.
Everyone please inundate your Assembly representatives as much as you can to let them know why you oppose this bill, and make your voices heard.
TAKE ACTION 📞
Call your California State Assembly member: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/
(Voicemails are good too. Include your name and address so they can verify you're a constituent.)
If you need help formulating what you want to say, see EFF's email template: https://eff.salsalabs.org/stopcasocialban/index.html or their article on AB 1709: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/04/act-now-stop-californias-paternalistic-and-privacy-destroying-social-media-ban.
If you can't call, EFF has a page that will find and email your Assembly member for you: https://eff.salsalabs.org/stopcasocialban/index.html
As of 5/18/2026, this bill has proceeded to Third Reading on the Assembly floor, likely to be read on the week of 5/26/2026 after memorial day, as this week will typically be dedicated to the reading and passage of bills before the 5/29/2026 deadline to pass bills out of their House of Origin.
So this is the final stretch to absolutely blast your Assembly representatives with calls telling them to not vote for this ridiculous measure. Make them hear your voices with all of your might no matter what it takes.
Update May 21, 2026 (See 5/20 Update ⬆️ by @botgal)
URGENT: AB 1709 will be voted on this week to meet the May 29 deadline for passing it out of the state Assembly to the Senate. NOW is the time to flood your state Assembly member with calls.
TAKE ACTION 📞
Call your California State Assembly member: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/ (Voicemails count. Include your name and address.)
Share this link with friends and ask them to call.
If you need help formulating what you want to say, see EFF's email template: https://eff.salsalabs.org/stopcasocialban/index.html or their article on AB 1709: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/04/act-now-stop-californias-paternalistic-and-privacy-destroying-social-media-ban.
If you can't call, EFF has a page that will find and email your Assembly member for you: https://eff.salsalabs.org/stopcasocialban/index.html
A.B. 1709 bans anyone under 16 from using social media & forces every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
TAKE ACTION
Tell your California State Assemblymember to VOTE NO on A.B. 1709:
California lawmakers are fast-tracking A.B. 1709—a sweeping bill that would ban anyone under 16 from using social media and force every user
April 24, 2026
California lawmakers are fast-tracking A.B. 1709—a sweeping bill that would ban anyone under 16 from using social media and force every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
That means that under this bill, all Californians would be required to submit highly sensitive government-issued ID or biometric information to private companies simply to participate in the modern public square. In the name of “safety,” this bill would destroy online anonymity, expose sensitive personal data to breach and abuse, and replace parental decision-making with state-mandated censorship.
A.B. 1709 has already passed out of the Assembly Privacy and Judiciary Committees with nearly unanimous support. Its next stop is the Assembly Appropriations Committee, followed by a floor vote—likely within the next week.
There is a hearing scheduled for May 13 in the Assembly Appropriations committee
https://apro.assembly.ca.gov/
Please find your reps involved, send position letters, and give them all the reasons this bill should not pass. Especially focus on potential financial consequences for things like small businesses which rely on social media
Unfortunately, as of May 14th, this bill has passed out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee from the Suspense file into the full Assembly. But that doesn't mean it's time to give up. If none of your Assembly members were in any Committees so far, then now is your chance. Everyone please inundate your Assembly representatives as much as you can to let them know why you oppose this bill, and make your voices heard.
Let them know that Californians don't want to be forced into further Draconian age verification as is currently spreading across the world like a virus. People should not need to sacrifice their anonymity in order to access the social media which keeps everyone connected. Healthy use and parental controls are one thing, but allowing California to slide further into becoming a nanny state feeding our information and identities to Big Tech oligarchs on a platter is a whole other matter which we cannot and should not stand for.
Everyone please inundate your Assembly representatives as much as you can to let them know why you oppose this bill, and make your voices heard.
TAKE ACTION 📞
Call your California State Assembly member: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/
(Voicemails are good too. Include your name and address so they can verify you're a constituent.)
If you need help formulating what you want to say, see EFF's email template: https://eff.salsalabs.org/stopcasocialban/index.html or their article on AB 1709: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/04/act-now-stop-californias-paternalistic-and-privacy-destroying-social-media-ban.
If you can't call, EFF has a page that will find and email your Assembly member for you: https://eff.salsalabs.org/stopcasocialban/index.html
As of 5/18/2026, this bill has proceeded to Third Reading on the Assembly floor, likely to be read on the week of 5/26/2026 after memorial day, as this week will typically be dedicated to the reading and passage of bills before the 5/29/2026 deadline to pass bills out of their House of Origin.
So this is the final stretch to absolutely blast your Assembly representatives with calls telling them to not vote for this ridiculous measure. Make them hear your voices with all of your might no matter what it takes.
OAKLAND — The California Department of Justice (California DOJ) today released proposed regulations under Senate Bill (SB) 976, also known a
SB 976, California's social media addiction act that passed in 2024, has been a looming threat over the heads of California citizens for their digital privacy. The government as finally opened a public comment period where the average Californian can give a piece of their minds about potential regulations for this act. Though the bill is passed, this is another opportunity we have to let those in charge know why it's a terrible idea to think that these kinds of laws would do anything but hand over more data to big tech companies and put a leash on the ability to speak freely over the internet
There's instructions on this web page about how to send in public comments either via email or physical mail, which will have a deadline of 45 days from now on 6/30/2026. This is not going to be the deadline of when these regulations will be enacted, but they'll be a big step in how these things can move forward, and a time when people can protest on what these regulations represent in a world increasingly moving towards a nanny state and government surveillance of our online activity.
I implore anyone in California who sees this to leave a public comment to let them know the dangers of measures like requiring the use of government IDs and age verification measures like biometrics to enforce this kind of heavy-handed paternalistic state tactics on Californians who want a safe, free, and private internet.
A.B. 1709 bans anyone under 16 from using social media & forces every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
TAKE ACTION
Tell your California State Assemblymember to VOTE NO on A.B. 1709:
California lawmakers are fast-tracking A.B. 1709—a sweeping bill that would ban anyone under 16 from using social media and force every user
April 24, 2026
California lawmakers are fast-tracking A.B. 1709—a sweeping bill that would ban anyone under 16 from using social media and force every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
That means that under this bill, all Californians would be required to submit highly sensitive government-issued ID or biometric information to private companies simply to participate in the modern public square. In the name of “safety,” this bill would destroy online anonymity, expose sensitive personal data to breach and abuse, and replace parental decision-making with state-mandated censorship.
A.B. 1709 has already passed out of the Assembly Privacy and Judiciary Committees with nearly unanimous support. Its next stop is the Assembly Appropriations Committee, followed by a floor vote—likely within the next week.
There is a hearing scheduled for May 13 in the Assembly Appropriations committee
https://apro.assembly.ca.gov/
Please find your reps involved, send position letters, and give them all the reasons this bill should not pass. Especially focus on potential financial consequences for things like small businesses which rely on social media
Unfortunately, as of May 14th, this bill has passed out of the Assembly Appropriations Committee from the Suspense file into the full Assembly. But that doesn't mean it's time to give up. If none of your Assembly members were in any Committees so far, then now is your chance. Everyone please inundate your Assembly representatives as much as you can to let them know why you oppose this bill, and make your voices heard.
Let them know that Californians don't want to be forced into further Draconian age verification as is currently spreading across the world like a virus. People should not need to sacrifice their anonymity in order to access the social media which keeps everyone connected. Healthy use and parental controls are one thing, but allowing California to slide further into becoming a nanny state feeding our information and identities to Big Tech oligarchs on a platter is a whole other matter which we cannot and should not stand for.
Everyone please inundate your Assembly representatives as much as you can to let them know why you oppose this bill, and make your voices heard.
TAKE ACTION 📞
Call your California State Assembly member: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/
(Voicemails are good too. Include your name and address so they can verify you're a constituent.)
If you need help formulating what you want to say, see EFF's email template: https://eff.salsalabs.org/stopcasocialban/index.html or their article on AB 1709: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2026/04/act-now-stop-californias-paternalistic-and-privacy-destroying-social-media-ban.
If you can't call, EFF has a page that will find and email your Assembly member for you: https://eff.salsalabs.org/stopcasocialban/index.html
A.B. 1709 bans anyone under 16 from using social media & forces every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
TAKE ACTION
Tell your California State Assemblymember to VOTE NO on A.B. 1709 using this form from EFF.org:
California lawmakers are fast-tracking A.B. 1709—a sweeping bill that would ban anyone under 16 from using social media and force every user
April 24, 2026
California lawmakers are fast-tracking A.B. 1709—a sweeping bill that would ban anyone under 16 from using social media and force every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
That means that under this bill, all Californians would be required to submit highly sensitive government-issued ID or biometric information to private companies simply to participate in the modern public square. In the name of “safety,” this bill would destroy online anonymity, expose sensitive personal data to breach and abuse, and replace parental decision-making with state-mandated censorship.
A.B. 1709 has already passed out of the Assembly Privacy and Judiciary Committees with nearly unanimous support. Its next stop is the Assembly Appropriations Committee, followed by a floor vote—likely within the next week.
If you prefer to call your California State Assemblymember, find them here: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/
The Science is Not Settled: How Weak Evidence is Fueling a National Push to Ban Social Media for Youth
As statehouses ramp up for 2026, we’re seeing a familiar and concerning trend of lawmakers rushing to regulate the internet based on shockin
By Molly Buckley for EFF.org, April 24, 2026
As statehouses ramp up for 2026, we’re seeing a familiar and concerning trend of lawmakers rushing to regulate the internet based on shockingly shaky science. From the California State Assembly to the Massachusetts and Minnesota legislatures, a wave of bills is crashing against the digital lives of young people, with proponents of these measures framing social media access as a "public health epidemic," or a "mental health crisis," even though we have yet to see any of the settled science that those labels usually invoke.
A.B. 1709 bans anyone under 16 from using social media & forces every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
TAKE ACTION
Tell your California State Assemblymember to VOTE NO on A.B. 1709 using this form from EFF.org:
California lawmakers are fast-tracking A.B. 1709—a sweeping bill that would ban anyone under 16 from using social media and force every user
April 24, 2026
California lawmakers are fast-tracking A.B. 1709—a sweeping bill that would ban anyone under 16 from using social media and force every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
That means that under this bill, all Californians would be required to submit highly sensitive government-issued ID or biometric information to private companies simply to participate in the modern public square. In the name of “safety,” this bill would destroy online anonymity, expose sensitive personal data to breach and abuse, and replace parental decision-making with state-mandated censorship.
A.B. 1709 has already passed out of the Assembly Privacy and Judiciary Committees with nearly unanimous support. Its next stop is the Assembly Appropriations Committee, followed by a floor vote—likely within the next week.
If you prefer to call your California State Assemblymember, find them here: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/
A.B. 1709 bans anyone under 16 from using social media & forces every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
TAKE ACTION
Tell your California State Assemblymember to VOTE NO on A.B. 1709:
California lawmakers are fast-tracking A.B. 1709—a sweeping bill that would ban anyone under 16 from using social media and force every user
April 24, 2026
California lawmakers are fast-tracking A.B. 1709—a sweeping bill that would ban anyone under 16 from using social media and force every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
That means that under this bill, all Californians would be required to submit highly sensitive government-issued ID or biometric information to private companies simply to participate in the modern public square. In the name of “safety,” this bill would destroy online anonymity, expose sensitive personal data to breach and abuse, and replace parental decision-making with state-mandated censorship.
A.B. 1709 has already passed out of the Assembly Privacy and Judiciary Committees with nearly unanimous support. Its next stop is the Assembly Appropriations Committee, followed by a floor vote—likely within the next week.
There is a hearing scheduled for May 13 in the Assembly Appropriations committee
https://apro.assembly.ca.gov/
Please find your reps involved, send position letters, and give them all the reasons this bill should not pass. Especially focus on potential financial consequences for things like small businesses which rely on social media
A.B. 1709 bans anyone under 16 from using social media & forces every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
TAKE ACTION
Tell your California State Assemblymember to VOTE NO on A.B. 1709 using this form from EFF.org:
California lawmakers are fast-tracking A.B. 1709—a sweeping bill that would ban anyone under 16 from using social media and force every user
April 24, 2026
California lawmakers are fast-tracking A.B. 1709—a sweeping bill that would ban anyone under 16 from using social media and force every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
That means that under this bill, all Californians would be required to submit highly sensitive government-issued ID or biometric information to private companies simply to participate in the modern public square. In the name of “safety,” this bill would destroy online anonymity, expose sensitive personal data to breach and abuse, and replace parental decision-making with state-mandated censorship.
A.B. 1709 has already passed out of the Assembly Privacy and Judiciary Committees with nearly unanimous support. Its next stop is the Assembly Appropriations Committee, followed by a floor vote—likely within the next week.
Brazil legislation: Digital Statute For Children And Adolescents
Apple App Store Age Verification
These are not tumblr specific policies. Tumblr is implementing age verification in response to legislative moves that were made months ago.
Tumblr is a failing social media site that has escaped death multiple times already; they do not have the social cachet to defy state regulatory agencies. We know they won't say no to Apple, either--the porn ban on tumblr was in response to Apple's crackdown on explicit content.
If you did not know this was happening, you were behind the curve. That is fine. You're caught up now. The next step is to link up with people in your country who are working to preserve privacy, to roll back these laws where they exist, and to prevent their passage where they do not. In the US the organization you want is Stop KOSA--in the EU you can start with Fight Chat Control.
Repealing ID verification and blocking chat control will help everyone, especially the most vulnerable. We can push this back, but we cannot get it done through the Feedback form. We have to get it done at the legislative level and lock it down so it cannot be forced upon us. I see lots of anger out there. Good. Put it to use.
A.B. 1709 bans anyone under 16 from using social media & forces every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
TAKE ACTION
Tell your California State Assemblymember to VOTE NO on A.B. 1709 using this form from EFF.org:
A.B. 1709 bans anyone under 16 from using social media & forces every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
TAKE ACTION
Tell your California State Assemblymember to VOTE NO on A.B. 1709:
California lawmakers are fast-tracking A.B. 1709—a sweeping bill that would ban anyone under 16 from using social media and force every user
April 24, 2026
California lawmakers are fast-tracking A.B. 1709—a sweeping bill that would ban anyone under 16 from using social media and force every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
That means that under this bill, all Californians would be required to submit highly sensitive government-issued ID or biometric information to private companies simply to participate in the modern public square. In the name of “safety,” this bill would destroy online anonymity, expose sensitive personal data to breach and abuse, and replace parental decision-making with state-mandated censorship.
A.B. 1709 has already passed out of the Assembly Privacy and Judiciary Committees with nearly unanimous support. Its next stop is the Assembly Appropriations Committee, followed by a floor vote—likely within the next week.
There is a hearing scheduled for May 13 in the Assembly Appropriations committee
https://apro.assembly.ca.gov/
Please find your reps involved, send position letters, and give them all the reasons this bill should not pass. Especially focus on potential financial consequences for things like small businesses which rely on social media
A.B. 1709 bans anyone under 16 from using social media & forces every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
TAKE ACTION
Tell your California State Assemblymember to VOTE NO on A.B. 1709:
California lawmakers are fast-tracking A.B. 1709—a sweeping bill that would ban anyone under 16 from using social media and force every user
April 24, 2026
California lawmakers are fast-tracking A.B. 1709—a sweeping bill that would ban anyone under 16 from using social media and force every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
That means that under this bill, all Californians would be required to submit highly sensitive government-issued ID or biometric information to private companies simply to participate in the modern public square. In the name of “safety,” this bill would destroy online anonymity, expose sensitive personal data to breach and abuse, and replace parental decision-making with state-mandated censorship.
A.B. 1709 has already passed out of the Assembly Privacy and Judiciary Committees with nearly unanimous support. Its next stop is the Assembly Appropriations Committee, followed by a floor vote—likely within the next week.
An update for users in Brazil and the United Kingdom
To continue our commitment to user safety and to comply with local laws, we will start using age groups to determine access to certain experiences.
People in Brazil or in the UK, who are 18 or older, will soon need to verify their age to change content label settings and view mature-labeled content. Until then, the settings will be locked to hide.
As a reminder, verification is handled by our age-assurance partner, k-ID. Tumblr won't have access to the information you submit, just the final age-verification result. Documents are deleted after confirmation, and facial scan data never leaves your device.
Questions? Contact Tumblr support or learn more about these changes here.
A.B. 1709 bans anyone under 16 from using social media & forces every user, regardless of age, to verify their identity before accessing social platforms.
TAKE ACTION
Tell your California State Assemblymember to VOTE NO on A.B. 1709 using this form:
