Limiting Children’s Access to ‘Addictive Feeds’ in New York City

New York’s state legislature has passed a bill that would prohibit social media companies from showing so-called “addictive feeds” to children under 18, unless they obtain parental consent. The Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act defines an addictive feed as one where the content is recommended or prioritized based on information about the user or the user’s device — basically, these are the algorithmic news feeds used by most social apps. “Non-addictive feeds,” a category that includes “feeds listed in chronological order,” would still be allowed. “New York is leading the nation to protect our kids from addictive social media feeds and shield their personal data from predatory companies,” Governor Hochul said. It would also prohibit platforms from sending notifications related to these feeds between the ages of midnight and 6am without parental consent.

New York’s state legislature has made an impactful decision by passing a bill that challenges the way social media companies target and prioritize content for young users under 18. This bill, known as the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act, strives to protect children from being exposed to addictive social media feeds without parental consent. It defines an “addictive feed” as one that utilizes algorithms to recommend or prioritize content based on user information or device data. On the other hand, feeds displayed in chronological order are considered “non-addictive” and are still permitted.

Governor Kathy Hochul, who is expected to sign the bill, has already shown her support for this legislation. Along with the SAFE Act, the New York Child Data Protection Act has also been passed, prohibiting online platforms from collecting and selling personal data of users under 18 without informed consent.

“New York is taking a pioneering step in safeguarding our youth from being exposed to addictive social media feeds and protecting their personal data from predatory companies,” Governor Hochul stated.

The passage of this bill would require social media companies to verify the age of their users and obtain parental consent before sending any notifications related to these feeds between the hours of midnight and 6am. Violations of the law could result in penalties of up to $5,000 per offense.

NetChoice, a trade group representing major tech companies such as Google, Meta, and Snap, as well as TechCrunch’s parent company Yahoo, has spoken out against the SAFE Act, deeming it “dangerous and unconstitutional.”

“This is an attack on freedom of speech and an open internet by the state of New York,” declared Vice President and General Counsel of NetChoice, Carl Szabo. “This bill essentially enables the government to monitor individuals’ online activity and censor content unless users provide identification to verify their age.”

The trade group also claims success in fighting against similar laws in Ohio, Arkansas, and California.

Sponsored by State Senator Andrew Gournades and Assemblymember Nily Rozic, the SAFE Act has received support from New York Attorney General Letitia James, making it a bipartisan effort to protect children and their well-being.