Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York senators are drafting legislation to prevent children from being exposed to the “addictive” aspects of TikTok and other social media platforms without parental authorization.
Hochul, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and other politicians introduced the new law in order to safeguard children from social media algorithms that are designed to keep users engaged for as long as possible by providing a continuous stream of extreme and occasionally violent content.
Children would need parental consent to access algorithm-controlled portions of applications like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, according to the legislation, which mandates that IT corporations develop the necessary software to implement the measures. Contrariwise, the AG would step in with a brand-new “internet” unit to levy penalties and enforce compliance.
The measure also prohibits platforms from sending alerts to children between the hours of midnight and six in the morning “without verifiable parental consent,” according to the AG’s office, and allows parents to “opt out” of access for their children during this time.
The social media platforms must also provide parents with tools so they may limit the number of hours each day their children can spend on the apps.
Each time one of these websites breaches possible child safeguards, the measure would allow the AG to seek damages of $5,000, and it would also permit children and their parents to file lawsuits for $5,000 “per incident,” according to the AG.
A second measure that has been suggested would prohibit internet services from gathering and disclosing personal information about kids unless they get informed consent. That informed permission must come from a parent for children under the age of 13.
“These kids are still experiencing the negative effects on their mental health driven by social media and the algorithms that bombard them incessantly that are ultimately intended to create an addiction,” Hochul said. “It can take a deadly toll and that’s not just hyperbole,” she said, adding that social media “preys on you.”
Research revealed that children’s exposure to social media is raising their rates of sadness, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, poor sleep, and self-harm.
“TikTok works hard to support the safety and well-being of our community, especially teens, and empower parents with tools and controls to safely navigate the digital experience,” the company said in a statement.
“We want young people to have safe, positive experiences across the internet. That’s why we’ve built safety and privacy directly into teen experiences,” Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, said.
