New York lawmakers working to regulate kids’ social media feeds

NEW YORK LAWMAKERS SAID TUESDAY, JUNE 4, THEY’RE WORKING TO FINALIZE LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ALLOW PARENTS TO BLOCK THEIR CHILDREN FROM GETTING CERTAIN SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS. NEW YORK’S STOP ADDICTIVE FEEDS EXPLOITATION (SAFE) FOR KIDS ACT WOULD PROHIBIT ALGORITHM-FED CONTENT WITHOUT “VERIFIABLE PARENTAL CONSENT”. 

THE LEGISLATION IS AIMED AT PROTECTING KIDS’ MENTAL HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT BY SHIELDING THEM FROM FEATURES DESIGNED TO KEEP THEM ENDLESSLY SCROLLING. INSTEAD OF HAVING AUTOMATED ALGORITHMS SUGGEST CONTENT BASED ON WHAT A USER HAS CLICKED ON IN THE PAST, KIDS WOULD SEE A CHRONOLOGICAL FEED OF CONTENT FROM USERS THEY ALREADY FOLLOW. 

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL AND ATTORNEY GENERAL LETITIA JAMES HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR THE REGULATIONS SINCE OCTOBER. 

THE LATEST VERSION REMOVES PROVISIONS THAT WOULD HAVE LIMITED THE HOURS A CHILD COULD SPEND ON A SITE. WITH THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDING THIS WEEK, ALBANY LAWMAKERS ARE MAKING A FINAL PUSH TO GET IT PASSED. 

CRITICS OF THE BILL SAY IT COULD MAKE THINGS WORSE FOR CHILDREN, LEADING TO INTERNET COMPANIES COLLECTING MORE INFORMATION ABOUT USERS. 

THE LEGISLATION IN NEW YORK IS SIMILAR TO ACTIONS TAKEN BY OTHER STATES TO CURB SOCIAL MEDIA USE AMONG CHILDREN. IN FLORIDA, REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS RECENTLY SIGNED LEGISLATION BANNING SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS FOR CHILDREN UNDER 14 AND REQUIRING PARENTAL PERMISSION FOR 14- AND 15-YEAR-OLDS. 

IN MARCH, UTAH REVISED ITS POLICIES TO REQUIRE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES VERIFY THE AGES OF THEIR USERS. HOWEVER, IT ALSO REMOVED THE REQUIREMENT THAT PARENTS CONSENT TO THEIR CHILD CREATING AN ACCOUNT. A STATE LAW IN ARKANSAS THAT ALSO WOULD HAVE REQUIRED PARENTAL CONSENT WAS PUT ON HOLD LAST YEAR BY A FEDERAL JUDGE.