In response to lawsuits challenging a recent state law, ACSA has filed a legal brief to support student safety on social media platforms and share school leaders’ concerns about social media’s effect on students.

The legal brief seeks to uphold a California law that protects students from social media targeting. Known as the “Protecting Our Kids From Social Media Act,” Senate Bill 976 (Skinner) was passed in 2024 with ACSA as a lead proponent. Since then, tech companies have filed three lawsuits against the State of California in an effort to block implementation: TikTok v Bonta, Meta Platforms Inc v. Bonta, and Google LLC et al v. Bonta.

ACSA’s briefing effectively amplified the voice of school administrators from across the state, presenting the court with a candid assessment of the issues.

Briefs were also filed by over a dozen states including New York, Minnesota, Colorado and Arizona, as well as children’s health advocates, education labor organizations, and privacy rights organizations.

ACSA’s brief provided a unique viewpoint by focusing on first-hand accounts from educators on how social media platforms are actually being used in California schools. As a result, the brief both supplemented the efforts of the State of California in its constitutional and public interest arguments, and was complemented by the briefs of others, such as children’s health organizations, which were able to provide further academic and scientific support to the issue of addictive social media.

SB 976 marked the first piece of state legislation where ACSA was at the forefront of social media policies and the impact to students. Set to take effect Jan. 1, 2027, the bill would prohibit social media platforms from sending addictive feeds to minors during certain time periods related to school hours and sleep unless they have consent from a parent or guardian. SB 976 also requires platforms to have several default settings for all users under the age of 18. While schools are currently authorized to regulate cell phone use during school hours, educators must still manage the heavy load that many students carry with them because of persistent, negative social media exposure outside of the classroom or school day.

In a letter requesting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature on SB 976, ACSA Legislative Advocate Dorothy Johnson wrote that the bill would reduce the risk social media feeds pose to youth and improve outcomes.

“As schools and the state invest significant dollars in student behavioral health resources, we cannot overlook additional tools that extend beyond the school site,” Johnson wrote. “SB 976 takes the right approach to limit the constant stream of addictive social media targeting young users. This assists educators in their efforts regarding both student academic success as well as socio-emotional well-being.”

The next hearing in the case is set for May 7, 2026.