Governor Hochul signs bill regulating social media for minors

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed a bill granting parents the authority to regulate their children's exposure to social media content recommended by algorithms. The aim is to combat the addictive nature of these platforms and safeguard the well-being of young users.

The legislation imposes restrictions on popular platforms like TikTok and Instagram, prohibiting them from displaying suggested posts to individuals under 18. Instead, minors will only see content from accounts they follow, with notifications for suggested posts disabled between midnight and 6 a.m.

Exceptions to these restrictions can be made if minors obtain 'verifiable parental consent,' as outlined in the bill. However, the enforcement of the law will be delayed as the State Attorney General Letitia James works on establishing rules for verifying users' age and parental consent mechanisms. Social media companies will then have 180 days to implement these regulations.

Governor Hochul stressed the significance of parental control in managing children's online activities and health, asserting that companies should not dictate these aspects. While the bill marks a crucial first step, further rule-making processes are expected, potentially leading to legal challenges from social media entities.

NetChoice, a tech industry group representing major companies like X and Meta, has criticized the legislation, claiming it infringes on free speech and internet openness. They argue that the law could lead to government surveillance of online activities by mandating content censorship unless users provide identification to verify their age.

This bill aligns with a broader trend of states seeking to regulate social media concerning children's interactions with these platforms. California Governor Gavin Newsom has also announced intentions to collaborate with the Legislature on a bill limiting smartphone usage for students during school hours.

While federal action on this issue remains limited, discussions on social media regulation are common in Washington. The US surgeon general recently urged Congress to consider implementing warning labels on social media platforms, drawing parallels to those on cigarette packages due to mental health risks for children.

Some tech companies have responded to mounting pressure by introducing parental control features on their platforms. For example, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, introduced tools last year enabling parents to set app usage time limits for children.

The New York legislation, introduced in October, faced significant opposition from the tech industry in the Legislature. Attorney General James, a key supporter of the bill, highlighted how social media platforms manipulate content to maintain young users' engagement, potentially heightening their susceptibility to mental health issues with prolonged usage.