New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D) signed two laws on Thursday that aim to mitigate the impact of social media on the mental health of children and teens by regulating how social media companies provide addictive resources to children and how they collect and use data from minors.
Social media platforms will be prevented from providing addictive features to children without parental consent under the Safe For Kids Act. They would also be prohibited from collecting, using or selling personal data from children and teenagers without consent, according to the Children’s Data Protection Law.
“Today we saved our children,” Hochul said.
Hochul highlighted the need for legislation based on the impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on children and adolescents, as the health crisis has led young people to spend more time online while physically isolating themselves.
By signing both bills, Hochul pressured Congress to act. She also supported the proposed idea of adding warning labels to social media platforms, as advocated by Surgeon General Vivek Murthy earlier this week in a New York Times Guest Opinion Essay.
The bills’ passage in New York comes as Congress considers federal legislation that would place protective barriers on how technology platforms operate for teens and children. Despite hearings with technology CEOs on children’s online safety and growing pressure for action, Congress has yet to pass an updated bill on children’s online safety or data privacy.
This story originally appeared on thehill.com read the full story
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