New York’s state legislature has passed the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act, a groundbreaking bill that aims to protect children under 18 from so-called “addictive feeds” on social media unless parental consent is obtained. This legislation defines addictive feeds as content recommended or prioritized based on user information, which includes most algorithmic news feeds. However, “non-addictive feeds,” such as those listed in chronological order, will still be permitted.
Governor Kathy Hochul is expected to sign the bill into law, having already praised its passage. Her office also supports the related New York Child Data Protection Act, which restricts online platforms from collecting or selling personal data from users under 18 without informed consent. Governor Hochul stated, “New York is leading the nation to protect our kids from addictive social media feeds and shield their personal data from predatory companies. Together, we’ve taken a historic step forward in our efforts to address the youth mental health crisis and create a safer digital environment for young people.”
The bill mandates social media companies to verify users’ ages and restricts platforms from sending notifications related to these feeds between midnight and 6 a.m. without parental consent. Companies that violate the law could face penalties of up to $5,000 per violation.
NetChoice, a trade group representing companies like Google, Meta, and Snap, criticized the SAFE Act as “dangerous and unconstitutional.” Carl Szabo, NetChoice Vice President and General Counsel, said, “New York has created a way for the government to track what sites people visit and their online activity by forcing websites to censor all content unless visitors provide an ID to verify their age.”
Meta offered a more conciliatory response, acknowledging some agreement with the bill’s aims. A spokesperson noted, “While we don’t agree with every aspect of these bills, we welcome New York becoming the first state to pass legislation recognizing the responsibility of app stores. According to research, the vast majority of parents support legislation requiring app stores to obtain parental approval to download apps.”
The bill, sponsored by State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Nily Rozic, has also garnered support from New York Attorney General Letitia James. Governor Hochul, Gounardes, Rozic, and James are all Democrats, united in their efforts to safeguard the digital well-being of young New Yorkers.
Philips Babatunde