News Summary
New York Attorney General Letitia James has introduced regulations associated with the SAFE for Kids Act. These rules will restrict social media companies from targeting personalized content to users under 18 without parental consent. The proposal aims to alleviate concerns related to personalized algorithmic feeds and their impact on young users’ mental health. Additionally, it includes measures for age verification and limits notifications during late-night hours. This initiative highlights growing concerns about online safety for children and has drawn both support and opposition from various organizations.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has proposed new regulations aimed at enforcing the SAFE for Kids Act, which is designed to restrict social media companies from targeting personalized algorithmic feeds to users under the age of 18 without obtaining parental consent. This significant proposal seeks to address growing concerns about the impact of social media algorithms on the mental well-being of young users.
The proposed regulations specify that social media platforms, such as TikTok and Instagram, would be limited to displaying content exclusively from accounts that young users actively follow. Additionally, the regulations prohibit companies from sending notifications to users under the age of 18 between midnight and 6 a.m. This initiative seeks to curtail excessive screen time and exposure to potentially harmful content during late-night hours.
Under the new regulations, companies must adopt stringent standards for verifying the ages of their users and obtaining the required parental consent. Social media companies are mandated to confirm a user’s age through effective methods that also safeguard users’ data. Potential mechanisms for age verification may include requiring users to upload a photo or verifying an email or phone number. Importantly, users under 18 must provide explicit permission for social media companies to seek parental consent before they can access customized algorithmic feeds.
There are also broader implications tied to the SAFE for Kids Act, as Attorney John Elmore, representing families affected by internet radicalization, pointed out the significant dangers posed by social media algorithms. A pending lawsuit asserts that certain social media platforms contributed to radicalizing the individual responsible for the mass shooting at the Tops supermarket in May 2022, highlighting serious concerns over user safety.
Supporters of the SAFE for Kids Act argue that curated feeds on social media contribute to the escalating anxiety and depression among youth, making these proposed regulations particularly timely. Public comments on the proposed rules will be accepted for 60 days after their announcement, allowing community input before any final decisions are made. Following this comment period, the Attorney General’s office has a year to finalize the regulations, and once approved, social media companies will be given 180 days to implement the new standards.
The regulations proposed in New York are intended to serve as a testing ground for effective age verification methods, especially considering that over 20 other states have enacted similar laws. This law is viewed as a potential landmark measure regarding online child safety across the United States.
However, opposition does exist. Organizations advocating for digital privacy and free speech express concerns that the age verification processes mandated by the regulations could infringe upon users’ freedom of expression. Previous attempts to introduce similar age verification laws in various states faced legal challenges, suggesting there could be future objections to the New York legislation.
Despite these challenges, social media companies, including Meta, have started implementing age assurance measures. The proposed regulations aim to enhance these efforts and enforce a higher standard across all platforms. Importantly, once age verification is successfully completed, the proposed regulations require that any personal identification data collected be deleted promptly, ensuring that users’ privacy is respected.
As the discussion around online safety for minors intensifies, the outcome of these proposed regulations could have far-reaching implications for how social media platforms operate and safeguard their young users.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- City & State NY
- The Verge
- NY1
- Times Union
- Ames Tribune
- Wikipedia: Age Verification
- Google Search: Social Media Regulations for Minors
- Google Scholar: Child Safety Social Media
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Social Media
- Google News: Social Media Laws for Kids
Author: STAFF HERE NEW YORK WRITER
NEW YORK STAFF WRITER The NEW YORK STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERENewYork.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in New York, the five boroughs, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as New York Fashion Week, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and Tribeca Film Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater New York Chamber of Commerce and United Way of New York, plus leading businesses in finance and media that power the local economy such as JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and Bloomberg. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBuffalo.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into New York's dynamic landscape.
