CA AB1138

Prohibits social media websites and applications from allowing users under 13 years old to create accounts without prior parental or guardian consent, effective July 1, 2021.

Requires consent methods to include reasonable measures verifying the person giving consent is the actual parent or legal guardian, with options including signed forms, credit card information, toll-free verification calls, video conferencing, government ID verification, security questions, or facial recognition technology.

Deems a business to have actual knowledge of a consumer's age if it willfully disregards the consumer's age.

Prohibits social media companies from retaining or using parental consent information except as necessary to comply with this section.

Defines "social media" as electronic services allowing users to post content on public or semipublic pages to share information, videos, photographs, or messages.