Governor of New York. Kathy Hochul On Thursday, he signed a bill targeting addictive social media feeds for children and teens, saying before signing the bill that “our children are in crisis.”
“They're not living carefree lives because they're captive to powerful forces beyond their control — algorithms that are intentionally addictive, designed to draw them in and keep their attention,” Hochul said in an exclusive interview with CBS News ahead of the bill signing.
The “Safe for Kids Act” that Hochul signed on Thursday would require social media companies to restrict “addictive feeds” for social media users under the age of 18. It would also prohibit notifications from social media platforms related to feeds between midnight and 6 a.m. without parental consent. And it would require new age verification and parental consent tools to be determined by state attorneys general.
Hochul said the measure specifically targets algorithms because, “to free our children, we must get to the source of the trauma they inflict.”
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But a group representing tech companies has opposed the legislation, arguing the law would violate the Constitution's First Amendment by censoring free speech online. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, told CBS News in a statement that while it doesn't support every aspect of the bill, it does support legislation requiring app stores to get parental approval to obtain apps. TikTok declined to comment.
The Democratic governor said that while the approach is “new,” he added, “we’ve looked into it to make sure it’s constitutional.”
Hochul said that with the change in the law, social media companies would be put “on notice.”
“The first thing to start with is simply changing the law, letting companies know that a new day has arrived in New York,” he said. “We're here to stand with our kids.”
This new law will go into effect 180 days after New York Attorney General Letitia James solidifies its exact rules and guidelines. James can then impose fines on social media platforms that don't follow the rules, with fines of up to $5,000 per violation.
The development comes as the issue has gained momentum elsewhere in recent days amid a broader effort to curb social media use among children. Earlier this week, the US Surgeon General suggested Congress should make social media for teens carry the same warning labels as addictive products like cigarettes. And the board of the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation's second-largest public school system, Voted Banning students from using mobile phones during school hours.
At the bill signing Thursday, Hochul said that “other states should start paying attention to New York,” adding that while she isn’t holding her breath waiting for a federal solution, a national solution is crucial.
He said, “Congress can and should take action. But until then, we will lead the country.”