California just drew a line in the Sand on AI and kids—here’s why it matters everywhere

When California draws a line, the rest of the country tends to take notice. This week, Governor Gavin Newsom signed a groundbreaking new law designed to protect children from the hidden dangers of AI-powered chatbots, and while it’s a state-specific move, it may soon redefine digital parenting across the U.S.

The legislation, known as Senate Bill 243, makes California the first state to create guardrails for how AI chatbots can interact with minors. It’s being hailed as a first-of-its-kind law — one that recognises something many parents already feel in their gut: kids are growing up in conversations we can’t always overhear.

Related: New report shows AI bots are putting kids at risk—what parents can do now

What the new law does

Starting January 1, 2026, AI chatbot operators in California will be required to:

• Notify users at the start of any conversation that the chatbot isn’t human and repeat that reminder every three hours during ongoing interaction.
• Prevent chatbots from exposing minors to sexual content.
• Implement crisis-response protocols for users expressing suicidal thoughts, including referrals to crisis helplines.
• Report instances where chatbots detect or discuss suicidal ideation with users.

Families will also have the right to pursue legal action if these safeguards are violated.

The bill, authored by State Senator Steve Padilla, passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. “These companies have the ability to lead the world in innovation,” Padilla said in a statement, “but it is our responsibility to ensure it doesn’t come at the expense of our children’s health.”

Why this is personal for parents

According to The Washington Post, a wrongful-death lawsuit filed by Megan Garcia, the mother of 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III, alleges that her son died by suicide after forming a deep emotional attachment to a chatbot on the Character.AI platform.

In the complaint, Garcia claims that moments before his death, the chatbot told her son to “come home to me as soon as possible,” after he had written, “What if I told you I could come home right now?” to which the bot replied, “Please do, my sweet king.” The case remains ongoing, and these details are allegations made in the court filing. 

Why it matters everywhere

California has long served as America’s testing ground for tech regulation (from car emissions to privacy laws). What starts in Sacramento often ripples outward.

In this case, Senate Bill 243 could set the precedent for how the rest of the country handles AI companionship, not just for children, but for any vulnerable user. Already, lawmakers in other states are signalling interest in similar protections, and advocacy groups are pushing for federal oversight that mirrors California’s approach.

For parents outside California, this is a preview of what’s coming, a signal that our conversations about screen time, online safety, and mental health are about to evolve again, this time to include AI “friends.”

What experts say about digital companions

Child psychologists warn that AI-powered chatbots can mimic emotional intimacy in ways that blur boundaries for children and teens.

Unlike social media, where interactions are public and peer-driven, these one-to-one AI companions unfold in private and are designed to be constantly responsive, which can foster emotional dependence and unrealistic expectations.

According to Psychology Today, this dynamic can distort a child’s understanding of empathy, trust, and healthy relationships, and even pose risks during mental health crises if the AI offers inappropriate guidance.

What parents can do now

Even before 2026, parents can take steps to stay informed and engaged:

• Ask questions early. Find out which apps or AI features your child uses. Some gaming platforms and study tools already include conversational AI.
• Model digital curiosity. Show your child how you question what’s real online. “Is this a person or a bot?” is a healthy conversation starter.
• Talk about emotions, not just safety. Help kids understand that chatbots don’t actually “feel” anything, even when they seem to.
• Normalise real connection. Keep reinforcing that human relationships: messy, unpredictable, beautifully imperfect, are irreplaceable.

Related: Can this new Instagram tool really protect our kids from online bullying?

A turning point for digital parenting

This law doesn’t fix everything overnight. Some advocacy groups have already criticised the delayed timeline for data reporting, arguing that “kids are dying now.” But symbolically, it’s a powerful first step, one that tells parents they’re not imagining the risks, and that lawmakers are beginning to listen.

As AI becomes a permanent fixture in our kids’ lives  (from classroom tutors to bedtime companions) this moment marks a shift. The world is finally catching up to what parents have always known: safety in the digital age is about understanding who (or what) is on the other side of the conversation.

Source: 

1. Steve Padilla. “First-In-The-Nation AI Chatbot Safeguards Signed Into Law.”
2. California Legislative Information. “Senate Bill No. 243”
3. The Washington Post. 2025 “Her teenage son killed himself after talking to a chatbot. Now she’s suing.”
4. Psychology Today. 2025 “Hidden Mental Health Dangers of Artificial Intelligence Chatbots.”

source https://www.mother.ly/health-wellness/california-ai-chatbot-law-kids-protection/