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https://www.politico.com/news/2026/02/21/online-age-newsom-social-media-00791870
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s call to restrict kids’ access to social media is lending new bipartisan momentum to an effort that has surged in red states and foreign capitals — but has so far largely languished in Washington.
By endorsing state legislation that would set age limits for teens on social media, the presumed 2028 Democratic presidential hopeful joins the ranks of Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, GOP governors like Florida’s Ron DeSantis and leaders in countries including Australia, Canada, France and Malaysia who have either enacted, proposed or considered similar restrictions. Standing up such a law on Silicon Valley’s home turf would be an especially potent response to growing concerns by parents about social media’s impact on children’s mental health.
Some conservative supporters of the restrictions say the emerging coalition on internet age-gating is filling a vacuum left by the Trump administration, which has largely declined to endorse the proposals. They see it as a missed opportunity for President Donald Trump, allowing politicians like Newsom to seize on populist outrage against the tech industry.
Michael Toscano, director of the Family First Technology Initiative at the conservative Institute for Family Studies, said Trump’s relative disinterest has made the issue of online age restrictions “ripe for the taking” for ambitious rivals like Newsom.
“Many of these ideas were pioneered by red states, and they were there for a Republican administration to take, with majorities in both houses,” Toscano said. “But instead, [the Trump administration] ignored their base and pushed industry priorities.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s call to restrict kids’ access to social media is lending new bipartisan momentum to an effort that has surged in red states and foreign capitals — but has so far largely languished in Washington.
By endorsing state legislation that would set age limits for teens on social media, the presumed 2028 Democratic presidential hopeful joins the ranks of Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, GOP governors like Florida’s Ron DeSantis and leaders in countries including Australia, Canada, France and Malaysia who have either enacted, proposed or considered similar restrictions. Standing up such a law on Silicon Valley’s home turf would be an especially potent response to growing concerns by parents about social media’s impact on children’s mental health.
Some conservative supporters of the restrictions say the emerging coalition on internet age-gating is filling a vacuum left by the Trump administration, which has largely declined to endorse the proposals. They see it as a missed opportunity for President Donald Trump, allowing politicians like Newsom to seize on populist outrage against the tech industry.
Michael Toscano, director of the Family First Technology Initiative at the conservative Institute for Family Studies, said Trump’s relative disinterest has made the issue of online age restrictions “ripe for the taking” for ambitious rivals like Newsom.
“Many of these ideas were pioneered by red states, and they were there for a Republican administration to take, with majorities in both houses,” Toscano said. “But instead, [the Trump administration] ignored their base and pushed industry priorities.”
