New York Attorney General Letitia James unveiled proposed rules on Monday to enforce the state’s crackdown on addictive social media feeds for children. The regulations are part of the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act, which was passed last year.
The law bans social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram from showing algorithm-driven, personalized feeds to users under 18 without parental approval. Instead, teens and children would only see posts from accounts they directly follow. It also stops companies from sending notifications to minors between midnight and 6 a.m.
The newly proposed rules outline how companies must verify user age and obtain parental consent. Acceptable methods could include uploading an image for verification or cross-checking email addresses and phone numbers against existing records. Teens under 18 who want access to personalized feeds or late-night alerts would need to allow platforms to reach out to their parents for consent.
Attorney General James emphasized the law’s importance, pointing to the growing mental health crisis among American youth. “Children and teenagers are struggling with high rates of anxiety and depression because of addictive features on social media platforms,” she said. The rules will undergo a 60-day public comment period before they can be finalised.
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