Maybe it is the absence of normal human interaction on websites such as Facebook and Twitter (News - Alert) that seems to actually encourage people, especially teens, to say things they regret.

Now in California kids who are haunted by their rants or embarrassing photos will soon be able to hit the 'delete' button. California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed into law an “eraser button” that will give minors the ability to request that their online trail be erased.

The announcement was made on the website of Senate President pro tem Darrell Steinberg. Steinberg is a sponsor of the bill.

Steinberg wrote, “This is a ground breaking protection for our kids who often act impetuously with postings of ill-advised pictures or messages before they think through the consequences."

According to a statement by Common Sense Media spokesperson Amber Whiteside, this bill is the first of its kind. "There is not similar legislation in other states."

The bill will take effect in 2015. Websites and mobile apps that are geared toward minors must give them the option to delete any information if they request it be removed. Many of sites popular with kids include Facebook (News - Alert), Twitter, Reddit, Pinterest and Snapchat.

The federal Children's Online Privacy Protection Act "requires parental consent for online users under the age of 13 before websites can collect their information."

The new bill, California Senate Bill 568, passed with bipartisan support. It had no opposition from the industry. 

The new bill will also prevent children's personal data from being used to promote products that they are prohibited from purchasing. This list of items includes firearms, tobacco, alcohol, and tattoos.

James Steyer the CEO and founder of Common Sense Media said in a letter that he wrote to Brown advocating the law that, “Children and teens often self-reveal before they self-reflect and may post sensitive personal information about themselves — and about others — without realizing the consequences."

The bill, however, does come with limits. It does not require content that is posted by a minor and then reposted by a third person, a common thing to happen on sites like Facebook, to be removed. A shared photo will also not be 'deleted.'

CNET reports that though public sites will be required to delete the information if requested, it does not require it be removed from the server so the data is not completely 'deleted.'

Facebook and Twitter already allow users of any age to delete their posts. The best way to keep embarrassing or hurtful information or texts from the worldwide web is to encourage kids to think before they post.