New York State has passed two new laws restricting how social media companies interact with and collect data from users under the age of 18.
The United States signed two bills into law on Thursday, including the Stop Addictive Feed Exploitation (SAFE) Child Act and New York’s Child Data Protection Act.
SAFE requires social media companies like Facebook and X to restrict addictive feeds for minors on their platforms. These include “algorithmically guided” feeds to prevent “unhealthy levels of engagement,” according to a press release.
New York’s Children’s Data Protection Act also prohibits websites and online devices from collecting, sharing, or selling the personal data of anyone under the age of 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 interact with and collect data from users under the age of 18. Governor Hochul said in a released statement that these new policies “will provide a safer digital environment, give parents more peace of mind and create a brighter future for young people across New York.”
Other parts of the country have passed laws restricting or limiting children’s access to phones and online platforms. She approved a bill similar to New York’s SAFE Act that would also prevent social media apps from sending notifications to minors during school hours and from midnight to 6 a.m. year-round. Enforce a ban that restricts students’ use of phones during school hours. California Governor Gavin Newson responded to the decision by promising to work with lawmakers on a similar law at the state level.
These new policies and laws aren’t just about keeping kids away from their phones while they’re at school. It is designed to address mental health issues caused by social media platforms. An op-ed published Monday by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called social media a “significant contributor” to mental health harm in teens and called on social media companies to post a warning label for teens on their platforms and apps.