New York's Attorney General, Letitia James, has unveiled proposed regulations aimed at enforcing the SAFE for Kids Act, which was passed last year to address the growing concerns of addictive social media content affecting children and teens. The new rules target social media platforms, requiring them to implement age verification systems, obtain parental consent, and impose restrictions on notifications for minors, reports AP.
The Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act bans platforms from showing algorithmically curated content to minors under 18 without explicit parental approval. Instead, young users will only see content from accounts they follow. Additionally, the law mandates a restriction on notifications between 12 a.m. and 6 a.m., reducing late-night screen time for minors.
The proposed regulations include guidelines for companies to determine users’ ages and secure valid parental consent. Platforms can choose from various age verification methods, such as uploading a photo or cross-referencing an email or phone number with existing data. However, the consent system would require platforms to seek parental approval for features like algorithm-driven feeds or overnight notifications.
Supporters of the SAFE Act argue that personalized social media content algorithms contribute to excessive usage among young people, linking them to rising mental health concerns, including anxiety and depression. "Children and teenagers are facing alarming levels of mental health issues, driven in part by addictive social media features," said Attorney General James in announcing the regulations.
The rules are currently open for a 60-day public comment period, with social media companies given 180 days to comply once the regulations are finalized.
Although similar age-verification laws have been enacted in more than 20 states, many face legal challenges, and digital rights groups have expressed concerns about privacy and free expression. While platforms like Instagram have introduced some age verification, James’ office has emphasized that voluntary efforts have not been enough to meet the protective standards outlined in the SAFE Act.
As the debate over youth online safety continues, New York’s proposed regulations could play a crucial role in shaping the future of social media for minors in the U.S.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
