AB-56 • 2026

Social media: warning labels.

Children

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Bauer-Kahan (A) , Wicks
Last action: 2025-10-13
Official status: Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 671, Statutes of 2025.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific details about user definitions or warning frequency beyond initial access and after three hours of use.

Social Media Warning Labels

This law requires social media platforms to display warning messages about the risks associated with prolonged use.

What This Bill Does

Enacts a new Social Media Warning Law that mandates covered social media platforms to show black box warnings to users under certain conditions.

Who It Names or Affects

Social media platform operators
Users of covered platforms

Terms To Know

Covered Platform: A social media website or app that must comply with the new warning requirements.
Black Box Warning: The specific message displayed by platforms to warn users about risks associated with prolonged use.

Limits and Unknowns

Does not specify what happens if a platform does not follow the warning rules.
Only applies starting January 1, 2027.
The exact wording and content of the warnings are not detailed in this summary.

Bill History

2025-10-13 California Legislative Information
Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 671, Statutes of 2025.
2025-10-13 California Legislative Information
Approved by the Governor.
2025-09-24 California Legislative Information
Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
2025-09-12 California Legislative Information
Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 59. Noes 7. Page 3368.).
2025-09-12 California Legislative Information
In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
2025-09-11 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 30. Noes 5. Page 2925.).
2025-09-08 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-09-05 California Legislative Information
Read third time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2025-09-02 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Ordered returned to second reading.
2025-08-29 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (August 29).
2025-08-18 California Legislative Information
In committee: Referred to suspense file.
2025-07-17 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (July 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-07-10 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2025-07-03 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on HEALTH.
2025-07-02 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on HEALTH. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (July 1).
2025-06-11 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on JUD. and HEALTH.
2025-05-29 California Legislative Information
In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.
2025-05-29 California Legislative Information
Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 50. Noes 0. Page 1777.)
2025-05-27 California Legislative Information
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (May 23).
2025-05-23 California Legislative Information
Coauthors revised.
2025-05-14 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to suspense file.
2025-05-05 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2025-05-01 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2025-04-30 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 1.) (April 29).
2025-04-23 California Legislative Information
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 11. Noes 1.) (April 22). Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2025-04-23 California Legislative Information
Coauthors revised.
2025-04-22 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
2025-04-21 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. Read second time and amended.
2025-04-01 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, second hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2025-03-12 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2025-02-26 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on P. & C.P.
2025-02-25 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on P. & C.P. Read second time and amended.
2025-02-24 California Legislative Information
Referred to Coms. on P. & C.P. and JUD.
2024-12-03 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee January 2.
2024-12-02 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 56, Bauer-Kahan.
Social media: warning labels.
Existing law generally regulates social media platforms, including, among other laws, the Protecting Our Kids from Social Media Addiction Act that prohibits an operator of an addictive internet-based service or application, including a social media platform, from providing an addictive feed, as defined, to a minor user, except as prescribed.
This bill would enact the Social Media Warning Law that would require a covered platform, as defined, to display a certain black box warning to certain users each day the user initially accesses the social media platform, again after 3 hours of cumulative active use, and thereafter at least once per hour of
cumulative active use, as prescribed.
This bill would specify that its provisions shall not be interpreted to serve as the basis for a private right of action, as specified. The bill would make its provisions operative on January 1, 2027, and would declare these provisions severable.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF