New Regulations Require Parental Consent for Curated Feeds for Users Under 18
Under the leadership of New York State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the Senate has passed groundbreaking legislation to prevent social media companies from showing harmful and addictive content to children under the age of 18, and limit the collection and use of children’s personal information.
“As we navigate the threats social media poses to our youth in today’s ever-evolving technological landscape, I’m proud that, under my leadership, the Senate is the first in the nation to pass legislation that would prohibit how social media companies can target children,” said Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins. “These bills place the power back in the hands of parents and protect our children from addictive and exploitative practices. Together, we will continue to take all necessary actions to protect the mental well-being of New York’s children.”
The Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act would prevent social media companies from showing addictive feeds – with content designed to keep children “glued” to devices – for users under 18, unless they have parental consent. It would also prohibit social media platforms from sending overnight push notifications, so that addictive notifications will no longer wake children in the middle of the night.
The Child Data Protection Act will limit media companies from collecting, using, sharing or selling personal information and data of anyone under the age of 18. Both pieces of legislation aim to protect children’s well-being and privacy.
“The legislation that was announced here by Governor Hochul, Attorney General James, Senator Gounardes, and Assemblymember Rozic in October 2023, are set to become law, and our children will be safer as a result,” said Michael Mulgrew, President of the United Federation of Teachers. “Bottom line: this legislation will help protect our students. As educators, we know the impact social media can have on our students’ emotional health and well-being. Hopefully, other states will follow New York’s lead.”
“Educators see the harmful effects of social media on our kids every day, and this legislation is a tremendous first step toward ensuring these influences remain in their proper places,” said New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) President Melinda Person. “We are grateful to the Legislature, the Attorney General and the governor for championing the mental health of our students as they navigate our rapidly changing world online.These platforms have potential to enhance teaching, learning and connectivity in our classrooms, but should never risk our children’s health or safety. New York can lead the nation in creating protections for the mental and physical wellness of the future generation, and this is just the beginning.”
“Hats off to New York’s leaders who have made the safety and well-being of children and teens online a top priority,” said James P. Steyer, Founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, the leading organization in the coalition to protect New York kids online. “From the start, Attorney General James, along with the Governor and their allies in the legislature, put together carefully crafted legislation that gets at the heart of what harms kids and their families online — the dangerous algorithms and constant notifications and the vacuuming up of kids’ data that is all used to make more money for social media companies. Once these bills are implemented, that will change for kids and teens in New York. Instead, kids’ data will be more secure, and the social media experience for young users will be healthier. That’s really important. We are proud to have played a key role in this campaign, and we are deeply grateful to the Attorney General and other state leaders who got this done.”
