N.Y. Bill Restricts Teens’ Algorithmic Social Media Access
OAN’s Abril Elfi
12:52 PM – Thursday, October 12, 2023
New York legislators have introduced a groundbreaking bill that aims to protect teenagers on social media. The bill requires parental agreement before teenagers can access algorithm-driven feeds.
On Wednesday, Governor Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.) along with Attorney General Letitia James, and two members of the state legislature introduced the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation for Kids Act (SAFE act).
According to the governor, the legislation comes at a time when mental health concerns are rising among teens across the United States.
Hochul continued, explaining how teen suicide rates have spiked and that more youth are being diagnosed with anxiety and depression.
“Our kids are in crisis, and the adults in the room need to step up,” Hochul said. “The statistics are extraordinarily disturbing: Teen suicide rates are spiking, and diagnoses of anxiety and depression are surging. It’s critical we all stand together to address the youth mental health crisis.”
The measure would ban services like TikTok’s “For You” page but would not affect information accessed through chronological feeds like TikTok’s “Following” page.
The bill would also empower parents or guardians to limit teens’ access to platforms and prohibit access between midnight and 6 a.m.
Failure to comply with the law could result in fines of up to $6,500 per infringement.
Antigone Davis, Meta’s head of global safety, said in a statement that the company already blocks most of its harmful content but will continue to work with legislators to bring easy solutions for parents on the issue.
“We refer to research, feedback from parents, teens, experts, and academics to inform our approach,” Antigone Davis, Meta’s head of global safety, said in a statement. “And we’ll continue evaluating proposed legislation and working with policymakers on developing simple, easy solutions for parents on these important industry wide issues.”
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, while social media has some benefits, it also poses “a meaningful risk of harm to youth.”
The Surgeon General’s Social Media and Youth Mental Health Advisory stated that children and adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face a twofold increase in the risk of mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety.
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How does the SAFE Act aim to protect teenagers on social media from potential harm?
New York legislators have introduced a groundbreaking bill aimed at protecting teenagers on social media by requiring parental agreement before they can access algorithm-driven feeds. The bill, called the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation for Kids Act (SAFE Act), was introduced by Governor Kathy Hochul, Attorney General Letitia James, and two members of the state legislature.
The introduction of this legislation comes at a time when mental health concerns among teens in the United States are on the rise. Teen suicide rates have spiked, and more youth are being diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Governor Hochul emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “Our kids are in crisis, and the adults in the room need to step up. Teen suicide rates are spiking, and diagnoses of anxiety and depression are surging. It’s critical we all stand together to address the youth mental health crisis.”
The SAFE Act would ban services like TikTok’s “For You” page, but it would not impact access to information through chronological feeds like TikTok’s “Following” page. The bill would also empower parents or guardians to limit teenagers’ access to social media platforms and prohibit access between midnight and 6 a.m.
Failure to comply with the law could result in fines of up to $6,500 per infringement. Antigone Davis, Meta’s head of global safety, pledged support for the legislation and stated that the company already blocks most harmful content but is willing to work with legislators to provide easy solutions for parents on the issue. Davis said, “We refer to research, feedback from parents, teens, experts, and academics to inform our approach. And we’ll continue evaluating proposed legislation and working with policymakers to develop simple, easy solutions for parents on these important industry-wide issues.”
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, social media has some benefits but also poses a meaningful risk of harm to youth. The Surgeon General’s Social Media and Youth Mental Health Advisory highlights the potential negative impact of social media on children and adolescents.
The introduction of the SAFE Act in New York is an important step in addressing the growing concerns surrounding teenagers’ mental health and their exposure to algorithm-driven feeds on social media platforms. By requiring parental agreement and implementing limits on access, the legislation aims to protect young individuals from potential harm and foster a healthier internet environment for teenagers. It is a significant move towards safeguarding the well-being of the younger generation in the digital age.
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