New York State Legislature Passes Bill to Protect Children from Addictive Social Media Feeds
The New York State Legislature has taken a significant step in safeguarding the well-being of children by passing the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act. This bill aims to prevent social media companies from exposing children under the age of 18 to addictive feeds without parental consent. Governor Kathy Hochul is expected to sign the bill into law, demonstrating the state’s commitment to protecting young minds.
The SAFE Act defines addictive feeds as those that prioritize or recommend content based on user information or device data. Essentially, this encompasses the algorithmic news feeds commonly used by social media platforms. However, the bill does allow for the inclusion of non-addictive feeds, such as feeds displayed in chronological order.
In addition to the SAFE Act, New York also passed a related Child Data Protection Act. This act prohibits online platforms from collecting or selling personal data from users under 18 without informed consent. Governor Hochul commended the passage of both bills, stating that they are crucial steps in addressing the youth mental health crisis and creating a safer digital environment for young people.
However, not everyone is supportive of these measures. NetChoice, a trade group representing tech giants like Google, Meta (formerly Facebook), and Snap, has voiced opposition to the SAFE Act, labeling it as “dangerous and unconstitutional.” They argue that implementing this legislation would infringe upon free speech and interfere with the open nature of the internet.
To comply with the bill’s requirements, social media companies would need to verify users’ ages and obtain parental consent for displaying addictive feeds. Additionally, platforms would be restricted from sending notifications related to these feeds between midnight and 6 am without parental consent. Violations of the law could result in penalties of up to $5,000 per violation.
NetChoice has previously successfully fought against similar bills in Ohio, Arkansas, and California. However, New York’s SAFE Act has gained support from State Senator Andrew Gournades, Assemblymember Nily Rozic, and New York Attorney General Letitia James, all of whom are Democrats.
By passing the SAFE Act, New York is taking a prominent role in protecting children from the potential harms of addictive social media feeds. The legislation reflects growing concerns about the impact of social media on youth mental health and aims to create a safer digital space for young people to navigate.