In a moment that may mark a turning point in how democratic societies govern the digital lives of their youngest members, California's governor signed sweeping legislation this week placing new limits on social media platforms and AI chatbots as they relate to children. The laws reflect a growing recognition that voluntary industry self-regulation has not been sufficient to protect minors from the attention-harvesting machinery of modern technology. Notably, some voices within the tech industry itself have offered support, suggesting the question is no longer whether regulation will come, but