California bill lets adults erase childhood posts shared by family
A new bill in California aims to give adults control over childhood content shared online by their families. Senate Bill 1247, introduced by Sen. Steve Padilla, would allow people to request the removal of posts featuring them as minors—especially if the family earned money from sharing them. The proposal follows growing concerns about privacy and mental health risks tied to such content. The bill was put forward after cases like Caymi Barrett's came to light. Barrett, the daughter of a social media influencer, had personal childhood photos and details posted without her consent. She now advocates for the legislation, arguing it would protect others in similar situations.
Former child actor Alyson Stoner also spoke in support at a news conference. She described how her online presence led to stalking, inappropriate use of her images, and public scrutiny of her appearance. These experiences highlighted the long-term harm of unchecked childhood content sharing. Under the proposed law, family members who posted the content would have 10 business days to remove or edit it after receiving a request. If they fail to comply, petitioners could take civil action, with statutory damages set at $3,000 for each day the content remains online. The bill has been referred to the Senate Privacy, Digital Technologies and Consumer Protection Committee. A hearing is scheduled for April 6. Over the past year, at least 20 US states have passed laws regulating children's social media use, some including provisions for parental content deletion.
If passed, the bill would provide a legal pathway for adults to reclaim control over their childhood images and information. The outcome could set a precedent for similar legislation in other states. For now, the committee's upcoming hearing will determine its next steps.
Read also:
- American teenagers taking up farming roles previously filled by immigrants, a concept revisited from 1965's labor market shift.
- Weekly affairs in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Landslide claims seven lives, injures six individuals while they work to restore a water channel in the northern region of Pakistan
- Escalating conflict in Sudan has prompted the United Nations to announce a critical gender crisis, highlighting the disproportionate impact of the ongoing violence on women and girls.
