In a significant step for the rights of young digital creators, Governor Gavin Newsom, along with singer and activist Demi Lovato, has put pen to paper on legislation aimed at safeguarding the financial interests of child influencers in the burgeoning online entertainment sector. According to a recent announcement by the California Governor, the pair were present for the signing of two pivotal bills: AB 1880 (Alanis) and SB 764 (Padilla).
AB 1880 extends the reach of the historical Coogan Law to now encompass minors who bring their talents to online platforms such as YouTube and TikTok, ensuring that 15 percent of their earnings are securely stowed away in trust, while SB 764 sets a mandate that guardians must set aside a portion of the earnings minors make from monetized content into trust accounts. Concerns of financial exploitation in an industry where child influencers can often be as marketable as their adult counterparts and can often feel just as binding as any Hollywood contract needs are now being addressed as Newsom propels California's legal framework into the digital age; this movement not only reflects on the inevitable evolution of the entertainment landscape but also the administration's tight grip on its stewardship of child welfare in an era of social media dominance.
"A lot has changed since Hollywood's early days, but here in California, our laser focus on protecting kids from exploitation remains the same," Newsom remarked, adding, "In old Hollywood, child actors were exploited. In 2024, it’s now child influencers. Today, that modern exploitation ends through two new laws to protect young influencers on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and other social media platforms."
The legislation met with broad support, notably from former child star Demi Lovato, who has turned her momentum toward activism, Lovato reflected, "In order to build a better future for the next generation of child stars, we need to put protections in place for minors working in the digital space." Legislative backers, including Assemblymember Juan Alanis and Senator Steve Padilla, echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of evolving legislature to keep pace with the dynamic digital media environment wherein vulnerable child content creators find themselves today, a stance that resonates deeply with the creative unions as well, with Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director, expressing gratitude for the protections long fought for now extending to digital personas.
The passing of SB 976 by Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) and AB 3216, known as the Phone-Free School Act, are additional pillars in Newsom's broader agenda targeting the protection of minors amid the proliferating risks posed by smartphones and social media platforms. The former curtails online platforms from providing addictive content feeds to minors without parental consent and restricts notifications during academic hours and post-evening times, whereas, the latter act mandates schools to set forth policies curtailing or outright banning smartphone use, aiming for full implementation by July 1, 2026.
