What state attorneys general can do about social media and teens, and how parents can use it

What to take away

Why state attorneys general became the practical enforcers on social media

Federal agencies set the floor. The Federal Trade Commission enforces the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which limits data collection from children under 13. But federal action moves slowly and covers a narrow slice of platform conduct.

State attorneys general fill the gap. They have consumer protection statutes, subpoena power and the ability to sue platforms in their own courts. They also answer to voters, which makes teen safety parenting a live political issue in state capitals.

Attorneys general also coordinate. Through the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), they share evidence and file joint actions. A single state's investigation can become a multistate effort.

Parents feel the results directly. When a case changes how a platform treats minors, your teen's account may change whether or not you ever contact an office.

Tool one: consumer protection lawsuits and multistate investigations

Most state suits rest on consumer protection law. Many states call these statutes UDAP laws, short for unfair and deceptive acts and practices. The claim is usually that a company misled the public about safety or built a product to hook minors, and the state asks a court for changes and penalties.

Before suing, offices often issue civil investigative demands, which are subpoena-like requests for internal documents about design choices, ad targeting, data retention and what the company knew about harms.

Four named cases show the pattern:

The focus is usually design, not content. Investigators ask whether features like infinite scroll, autoplay and push notifications were built to extend sessions among minors.

Parents do not need to wait for a verdict. When a state files or settles, it publishes a press release naming the platform and the conduct. That notice is a signal to check your teen's settings on that platform and to watch for the teen social media use laws that often follow. These cases take years, and the documents they surface shape public understanding long before any resolution.

Tool two: state laws attorneys general enforce

Some states now give the AG a statute written for minors, not just general consumer law.

California's Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (AB 2273, 2022) would require high privacy defaults for children's accounts. Courts have blocked parts of it after an industry challenge, and the case, NetChoice v. Bonta, was back in the district court in 2026. A law on the books is not always a law in force.

New York's SAFE for Kids Act, signed in June 2024, bars covered platforms from serving algorithmic feeds and nighttime notifications to under-18 users without verifiable parental consent. The attorney general writes the rules and enforces it, with civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation. The final rules were released in July 2026, and the law is scheduled to take effect January 25, 2027.

Our guide to age checks and social media rules by state covers what other states require. Check the AG's site for whether a law is currently being enforced.

Tool three: task forces and published findings

Some AG offices run online safety initiatives that publish findings. Others work through the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Program, funded by the US Department of Justice, which links state and local police and prosecutors who investigate child exploitation online. Whether your AG has a dedicated unit depends on the state, so check the office's website.

A typical published report names specific design features, describes how they affect minors, and recommends changes to platforms, schools and parents. Some include survey data, and many draw on the CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Survey. When a report cites a source, follow the citation to the original data.

Published AG findings have limits. They are not peer-reviewed studies, and they usually rely on subpoenaed documents plus testimony. Treat them as strong evidence of what a platform knew, not proof of causation for any individual teen.

Tool four: settlements and the changes they force on platforms

A multistate settlement can end with money and required changes. The money usually goes to the states, sometimes with a share for consumer redress. The changes are the part parents should track.

Terms differ by case. Remedies that AGs seek or secure include changes to default settings and features, limits on how data from minors is used, penalties, and reporting to the state. The Texas settlement above is a model: a payment plus a feature that was shut off.

Settlements are not national law. A platform may change behavior nationwide to avoid a patchwork, or only in the settling states. That is why the same app can behave differently depending on where your teen lives.

When a settlement is announced, read the complaint and the order, not just the press release. They name the specific conduct and the specific fixes, and they are what you can use to hold a platform to its promises.

How parents can use AG tools and file complaints that count

A parent complaint triggers action when it documents a pattern. Offices handle complaints differently. Texas, for example, says complaints are public records under state law. California's office takes complaints only against businesses that no other agency regulates. New York's Bureau of Consumer Frauds and Protection handles deceptive or illegal trade practices by businesses. In each case, a complaint may be sent to the company, logged to spot patterns, or lead to an investigation if many consumers report the same problem.

Here is how to file one that counts.

You can also use AG findings to shape what you ask for at home. If a report names autoplay as a driver of long sessions, turn it off. If it names public defaults, switch your teen's account to private. Our guide to parental controls shows where those settings sit. The block, mute, and report tools are the first line, and AG findings tell you which features to target. For tools that help, see parental control apps compared.

Reading an AG report without overclaiming what it proves

AG reports and complaints are persuasive documents, not neutral science. They are written to support enforcement. That does not make them wrong, but it does mean you should read the method section before the findings.

A finding that heavy users report worse sleep is not proof that the platform caused the sleep problem. It is a pattern worth acting on, especially if it repeats across states and data sources.

Watch for dated material. A report from several years ago may describe features that have since changed. Check the platform's current settings before you act on an old finding.

An allegation in a complaint is also not a court finding. Companies named in the suits above deny the claims, and the cases continue.

Use the report as a map, not a verdict. It tells you where to look and what to ask. Your own observations of your teen's use are the final check.

A route into your own state's AG office

Every state has an attorney general, and most have a consumer protection division that handles online complaints. Finding yours is the first step.

The National Association of Attorneys General keeps a directory of the state attorneys general offices, which is a quick way to confirm the right office for your state. Most AG offices are also easiest to reach by searching for your state name plus "attorney general."

Once you are on the site, start with three of the checklist items: a consumer complaint form, a press release page, and any online safety task force or initiative. The press release page is where settlements and investigations are announced first.

Sign up for email alerts if the office offers them. That way you learn about a settlement or a new report when it happens, not months later.

You can also ask your state legislator to push for online safety bills. AG offices often propose legislation, and constituent calls help move it.

Finally, treat your AG office as one part of a larger system. The FTC handles federal privacy cases and COPPA, NCMEC runs the CyberTipline for reports of exploitation, and StopBullying.gov offers school-focused guidance. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center takes reports of online crimes against minors. Use the office that matches the problem.

Common questions

What can a state attorney general actually do to a social media platform?

They can investigate, subpoena documents, sue under state consumer protection laws, enforce state laws written for minors, and negotiate settlements that require changes to platform design and defaults. They often act in groups, as in the 2023 Meta suit.

Does filing a complaint with my AG office do anything?

A single complaint rarely triggers an investigation, but it becomes part of the office's record. Many complaints about the same feature can prompt action. File with both your state AG and the FTC.

Are AG settlements national or state by state?

They are state by state, though platforms often apply changes nationwide to avoid a patchwork of rules. Check the settlement terms to see which states are covered and what changes are required.

How do I find my state's online safety task force?

Search your state attorney general's website for "online safety" or "task force." Not every state has one. If yours does not, the consumer protection division still takes complaints.

Should I trust an AG report's findings?

Treat them as strong but not neutral evidence. They are built for enforcement, so read the method section and check whether the findings are current before you change your teen's settings.

What is the difference between an AG investigation and an FTC case?

The FTC enforces federal laws like COPPA across the country. State AGs enforce state consumer protection laws and can move faster on local concerns. Both publish documents parents can read.