Governor Gavin Newsom said on Wednesday that the United States needs federal assistance to enforce age‑verification restrictions on social‑media platforms, citing his own experience as a parent of a teenager.
Newsom made the remarks at a press conference in Sacramento while discussing recent bipartisan legislation, such as the Kids Online Safety Act, that would require platforms to verify users’ ages before allowing access to certain services.
What the Right Is Saying
Senator Ted Cruz (R‑TX) responded that federal mandates could infringe on First Amendment rights and place undue burdens on technology companies, stating, “The government should not dictate how private platforms verify age; that is a matter best left to the market and parental discretion.” The Chamber of Progress, representing tech firms, echoed this view, emphasizing that existing self‑regulatory tools already allow platforms to implement age‑gates voluntarily.
What the Left Is Saying
Senator Mark Warner (D‑VA) said the governor’s call reflects growing concern among families, noting that “children are spending more time online than ever, and we need consistent, nationwide protections,” and urged Congress to pass the bipartisan bill without delay. Progressive advocacy group Common Sense Media added that its 2025 report found a 30% increase in anxiety symptoms among teens who use social media for more than three hours per day, supporting the need for stricter age checks.
What the Numbers Show
According to Pew Research Center data released in January 2024, 81% of U.S. teens use Instagram and 69% use TikTok, with an average of 2.5 hours per day spent on these apps. A 2025 Common Sense Media study reported that 45% of teens say they feel “addicted” to social‑media platforms, and 27% have experienced sleep disturbances linked to nighttime usage. Federal Trade Commission records show that only 12% of platforms currently employ robust age‑verification systems beyond basic birth‑date entry.
The Bottom Line
Newsom’s appeal adds a high‑profile state voice to an ongoing national debate over how to protect minors online. The Senate is scheduled to vote on the Kids Online Safety Act in late March, and the outcome will shape whether federal age‑verification standards become law. Stakeholders on both sides will continue to monitor the legislative process and the impact of any new regulations on users and platforms.