Governor Hochul Enacts New York’s Groundbreaking Social Media Restrictions for Minors

Governor Kathy Hochul signs nation-leading legislation to combat addictive social media feeds and protect kids online. (Susan Watts/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul)

New York Governor Kathy Hochul today signed two groundbreaking pieces of legislation aimed at tackling the mental health crisis fueled by addictive social media feeds and enhancing the protection of children’s personal data online. The new laws, S.7694A/A.8148A and S.7695B/A.8149A, collectively known as the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) For Kids Act and the New York Child Data Protection Act, represent the most stringent protections for minors in the nation.

“Young people across the nation are facing a mental health crisis fueled by addictive social media feeds – and New York is leading the way with a new model for addressing the crisis and protecting our kids,” Governor Hochul said. “By reining in addictive feeds and shielding kids’ personal data, we’ll provide a safer digital environment, give parents more peace of mind, and create a brighter future for young people across New York.”

The SAFE For Kids Act mandates social media companies to restrict addictive, algorithmically driven feeds for users under 18 unless parental consent is given. This is the first law of its kind in the United States. The legislation also limits notifications from addictive feeds to minors during late-night hours without parental consent. The New York Child Data Protection Act prohibits online sites and connected devices from collecting, using, sharing, or selling personal data of minors without informed consent, except when necessary for the website’s operation.

Attorney General Letitia James, who joined the Governor at the signing ceremony, emphasized the urgency of addressing the mental health crisis exacerbated by social media. “Addictive feeds are getting our kids hooked on social media and hurting their mental health, and families are counting on us to help address this crisis,” she said. “The legislation signed by Governor Hochul today will make New York the national leader in addressing the youth mental health crisis and an example for other states to follow.”

The legislation, supported by State Senator Andrew Gounardes and State Assemblymember Nily Rozic, is part of a broader effort by Governor Hochul to tackle the youth mental health crisis. Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie also voiced their strong support for the new laws.

Research highlighted in a U.S. Surgeon General advisory notes that adolescents spending more than three hours daily on social media are at double the risk of experiencing mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety. A Pew Research Center report revealed that 60% of teens feel they lack control over the personal information collected by social media companies.

Key Provisions of the SAFE For Kids Act:

  • Social media companies must restrict algorithmically driven feeds for users under 18 unless parental consent is provided.
  • Minors can still search for specific topics or follow creators but won’t receive addictive feeds promoting unhealthy engagement.
  • Notifications related to addictive feeds are prohibited from 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. without parental consent.
  • The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is authorized to enforce the law, with penalties up to $5,000 per violation.

Key Provisions of the New York Child Data Protection Act:

  • Prohibits online sites and connected devices from collecting, using, sharing, or selling personal data of minors without informed consent unless necessary for the website’s operation.
  • Authorizes the OAG to enforce the law, including imposing civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation.