LGBT Tech’s Shae Gardner Writes Op‑Ed in the Bay Area Reporter on California’s AB 1709
- Ellie Bessette
- 10 minutes ago
- 1 min read
LGBT Tech's Director of Policy & Research, Shae Gardner, has published a guest opinion in the Bay Area Reporter examining the potential unintended consequences of California Assembly Bill 1709, legislation that would prohibit children under 16 from creating or maintaining social media accounts on platforms with certain "addictive features."
In the op-ed, Gardner argues that while protecting young people online is a critical goal, broad social media bans risk harming the very youth they are intended to protect. For many LGBTQ+ young people, online communities provide access to affirming peers, trusted information, mental health resources, and a sense of belonging that may not exist in their homes, schools, or local communities.
The piece acknowledges the very real online harms LGBTQ+ youth face but emphasizes that restricting access altogether is not the answer. Instead, Gardner calls for policies that address specific online risks while preserving young people's ability to safely access supportive digital spaces and resources.
Rather than relying on broad prohibitions, the op-ed advocates for practical, evidence-based solutions such as digital literacy education, stronger safety tools for families, and flexible policies that can adapt alongside rapidly evolving technology.
