On June 20, 2024, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act into law, marking a significant step in regulating social media platforms’ interaction with minors.
Here are the key points of this groundbreaking legislation:
- The Act prohibits social media platforms from providing “addictive feeds” to users under 18 without parental consent
- “Addictive feeds” are defined as content recommended or prioritized based on user information or device data
- It prohibits the sending of notifications to minors between midnight and 6 AM Eastern Time without parental consent
Who does it apply to: platforms that offer addictive feeds as a significant part of their services and covers conduct occurring wholly or partly in New York
When does it become effective: 180 days after the Attorney General promulgates implementation rules
What does it do: Social media companies must use “commercially reasonable methods” to determine a user’s age
Why was this law created: To address emerging issues with social media’s impact on youth mental health
Potential Problems (or the law of unanticipated consequences which should have been anticipated): It is not currently possible to verify the ages of minors without creating potential privacy issues
In the eyes of the law 