New York is introducing new legislation, the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act, in an attempt to protect young users from the risks of personalized, algorithm-driven social media feeds. This law will require parental approval for users under 18 to access these feeds.
These “addictive feeds” use advanced machine learning algorithms that create content to maximize the user’s engagement, often at the expense of their well-being. The legislation requires that platforms offer non-algorithmic versions of their apps for teen users and prohibits them from sending notifications to minors from midnight to 6 AM.
The bill reflects growing concerns about the negative impacts of social media on younger users’ mental health. Without federal guidelines, states like Florida and Maryland are creating various child protection laws, potentially complicating compliance for social platforms.
What It Means
As states push for changes, there’s a growing need for national rules to better control social media features like algorithm use and age checks for young users. The Senate should take note of the frustrations driving these state-level actions.
Dia´s Weekly Download Edition #20
