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 (reblogs). Follow post for updates.
Discord recently introduced global age verification. You can bypass it with this script. There's also instructions to automatically age-verify on other websites (like twitch, snapchat, and other sites that use k-id as their age verification provider).
Should you find this post in the future: this is dated 12 february 2026 and may not work in the future, as k-id of course tries to patch these methods out.
The project is open source on github! All credits go to xyzeva, Dziurwa and amplitudes.
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
