New York is taking another step to address growing concerns about the impact of social media on children’s mental health, with new regulations that will require platforms to limit addictive features for users under 18.
State officials on July 29 released final rules implementing the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation, or SAFE, for Kids Act, which requires social media companies to restrict algorithmically personalized feeds and overnight notifications for minors unless they obtain parental consent. Research has linked these features to increased risks of depression, anxiety, eating disorders and sleep disruption among children and teenagers.
“When I came into office, our children were in the throes of a full-blown mental health crisis, and as New York’s first mom governor, I felt a moral imperative to act,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in announcing the regulations. “Today, we’re sending a clear message: our kids’ mental health isn’t for sale.”
Under the rules, users younger than 18 will no longer receive endless streams of recommended content generated by algorithms unless a parent provides consent. Instead, minors will see posts from accounts they choose to follow in a set order, such as chronological order. Platforms also will be prohibited from sending notifications between midnight and 6 a.m. without parental approval.
Attorney General Letitia James said the regulations establish standards for age verification and parental consent while requiring companies to protect users’ personal information.
“The SAFE for Kids Act leads the nation in keeping our children safe online and protecting youth from the devastating effects of unchecked social media,” James said. “Young people are particularly vulnerable to addictive social media features, and my office is committed to protecting all New Yorkers from potentially harmful technologies and companies that try to take advantage of them.”
The regulations require companies to verify whether a user is an adult before enabling algorithmically personalized feeds or nighttime notifications. Platforms may use methods such as uploaded photos or videos, or verify email addresses or phone numbers, but must provide at least one option that does not require a government-issued identification. Any data collected for age verification must be deleted or de-identified after it is used.
The SAFE for Kids Act, signed into law in June 2024, will take effect Jan. 25, 2027, 180 days after the regulations are published in the State Register. Companies that violate the law could face civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, among other enforcement actions by the attorney general’s office.
