New York has passed two new laws restricting social media companies from contacting and collecting information from users under the age of 18.
On Thursday, he signed two bills into law, including the Stop the Exploitation of Addictive Feeds for Children (SAFE) Act and the New York Children’s Data Protection Act.
SAFE requires social media companies like Facebook and X to restrict content that is addictive to minors on their platforms. According to a press release, these include feeds that are “algorithmically controlled” to avoid “unhealthy levels of engagement.”
New York’s Children’s Information Protection Act also prevents online sites and devices from collecting, sharing, or selling personal information of anyone under 18.
Both laws require companies to obtain parental consent before allowing children to access or collect data from algorithm-driven feeds. The new laws also require social media companies to establish age verification and parental consent controls for their platforms based on guidelines set by the New York Attorney General.
New York has passed two new laws restricting how social media companies can interact with and collect information from users under 18. These new policies will “provide a safer digital environment, give parents more peace of mind and create a brighter future for New York’s youth,” Governor Hochul said in a statement.
Other parts of the country have passed laws restricting or restricting children’s access to phones and online platforms. Approved a bill similar to New York’s SAFE Act that would prevent social media apps from sending notifications to minors during school hours and between midnight and 6 a.m. year-round. imposed a ban on students’ phone use during class hours. California Governor Gavin Newson responded to the ruling by promising to work with lawmakers on a similar state law.
These new policies and laws aren’t just about keeping kids off their phones while at school. They are designed to address mental health issues created by social media platforms. On Monday, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy published an op-ed that called social media a “significant contributor” to teen mental health and urged social media companies to post a teen warning label on their platforms and apps.
