Governor Kathy Hochul and state legislators in New York are close to passing laws that would require social media platforms to limit algorithmic content promotion to minors, with a focus on protecting children’s privacy and regulating content display methods.
New York is poised to potentially become the first state to pass laws that limit social media platforms from using algorithms to promote content to minors. Governor Kathy Hochul and state legislators are near a deal on this legislation, which would require social media giants like TikTok and Instagram to default to chronological content display for young users, with algorithmic feeds being an opt-in option requiring parental consent.
The legislative package also includes measures aimed at protecting children’s privacy by restricting websites from collecting or sharing personal data of users under 18 without parental consent. These proposals build on existing federal protections for children under 13.
State lawmakers could vote on these bills as soon as this week. Despite intense lobbying from the tech industry, New York officials assert this legislation aims to regulate content display methods rather than limit access. Governor Hochul emphasized that the intent is to mitigate the exposure of young users to potentially harmful algorithmically generated content.
This development follows similar legislative efforts in states such as Arkansas, Florida, and Louisiana, highlighting a broader national movement to regulate social media companies’ practices concerning minors. However, such laws have faced legal challenges, with industry groups arguing they infringe on First Amendment rights.
