Staff Reports
California’s new social media law, AB 1709, and the lawsuits that followed have lit up headlines. Meta, Google, and TikTok sued to block the law, arguing free‑speech and Section 230 protections. That legal fight matters in court, but it misses the point most parents already know: platforms and politicians can tinker with feeds, but they can’t raise your child for you. Courageous parenting must become the norm.
Lawsuits, Lawmakers, and Blame-Shifting
Yes, Meta, Google, and TikTok have filed lawsuits saying the California social media law oversteps and violates the First Amendment and federal law. Attorney General Rob Bonta is defending AB 1709, and Governor Gavin Newsom signed it as part of a child‑safety package. But watching corporations argue about “editorial decisions” and politicians punt responsibility with new rules doesn’t put dinner on the table or teach a teenager how to behave. The legal fight over age verification, civil penalties, and what counts as an “addictive feed” is important — legally and financially — but it’s not a parenting plan.
Parents, Not Platforms, Must Lead
Too many families treat apps and lawmakers as a substitute for rules. Platforms promise parental controls and age verification; politicians promise safety through regulation. Meanwhile, parents too often cave the moment a child protests. “Everyone else is going” or “You don’t trust me” become the trump cards that win every debate. Newsflash: allowing every pleasure isn’t parenting. It’s enabling. If we want kids who keep commitments, respect elders, and handle real duties, parents have to set clear expectations — and be willing to be unpopular for a while.
Practical Steps for Courageous Parenting
Start with basics: clear device rules, limits on screen time, and consequences that are actually enforced. Make chores and family duties non‑negotiable. Use parental‑control tools when needed, but pair tech with conversation and real oversight — not a checklist and a shrug. Teach kids why trade‑offs matter: choices have costs, and sometimes you put others first. That’s how responsibility is learned, not by watching courts argue over Section 230 or by waiting for a law to delete an “addictive” feature.
Conclusion — Someone Is Counting On You
AB 1709 and the Meta, Google, and TikTok lawsuits will play out in courtrooms and news cycles. They raise real questions about free speech, age verification, and privacy. But the deeper lesson is plain: laws and lawsuits are poor substitutes for steady, courageous parenting. If we want safer kids and stronger communities, parents must stop outsourcing authority to apps and statutes. Be the adult. Say no when you need to. Someone is counting on you — and the courtroom won’t raise that child for you.
