New York lawmakers are in the final stages of crafting legislation that would empower parents to prevent their children from receiving social media content curated by algorithms. This move aims to address concerns that such feeds contribute to excessive screen time among young users.
Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James have been championing these regulations since October, despite facing resistance from the tech industry. The revised legislation no longer includes restrictions on the hours children can spend on social media platforms. With the legislative session drawing to a close, Albany lawmakers are intensifying efforts to pass the bill.
The proposed law, known as the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) For Kids Act, seeks to prohibit algorithm-driven content delivery without 'verifiable parental consent.' The primary goal is to safeguard the mental health and development of young individuals by shielding them from features designed to foster prolonged engagement.
If enacted, the legislation would require social media platforms to present young users with a chronological feed of content from accounts they follow, rather than algorithmically personalized suggestions based on past interactions. The bill does not seek to regulate the content itself but rather the mechanisms that enhance addictiveness.
Opponents of the bill, such as the Surveillance Technology Oversight Project, caution that it could inadvertently lead to increased data collection by internet companies. They argue that age verification technologies could compromise user privacy.
The tech industry trade group NetChoice, representing companies like Meta and X, has criticized the legislation, accusing New York of overreach and infringing on First Amendment rights. They contend that the bill would compel websites to censor content and restrict access without proper age verification.
In addition to curbing algorithmic feeds, the bill also prohibits social media platforms from sending notifications to minors between midnight and 6 a.m. without parental consent. Violations could result in fines of up to $5,000 per incident.
If approved by the Assembly and Senate, Gov. Hochul is expected to sign the bill into law, underscoring its significance as a top legislative priority. In an op-ed, Hochul emphasized the importance of protecting children from the pervasive influence of addictive digital content, drawing parallels to past public health initiatives like tobacco marketing restrictions and raising the drinking age.
