New York state lawmakers on Friday passed legislation to bar social media platforms from exposing “addictive” algorithmic content to users under age 18 without parental consent, becoming the latest of several states moving to limit online risks to children.
A companion bill to restrict online sites from collecting and selling the personal data of underage users also gained final legislative approval in the New York Assembly on Friday, a day after both measures cleared the state Senate.
Governor Kathy Hochul is expected to sign both into law.
She hailed the two measures as a “historic step forward in our efforts to address the youth mental health crisis and create a safer digital environment for young people.”
Social media companies such as Meta Platforms (META.O), opens new tab, whose platforms include Facebook and Instagram, could take a hit to their revenues.
Supporters of the legislation pointed to a recent Harvard University study that found the six largest social media platforms generated $11 billion from advertising to minors in 2022.
