New York has introduced a requirement for social media services to show cautionary notices akin to tobacco packaging alerts. Approved by state lawmakers in June, the measure received Governor Kathy Hochul's approval on Friday. Targeted at sites with endless scrolling, automatic video playback, engagement metrics, or recommendation algorithms, these notices aim to alert users to risks of psychological damage for adolescents.
Operators of such platforms must present the alerts upon a user's initial engagement with elements deemed exploitative by the state, with follow-up displays at regular intervals thereafter.
Governor Hochul stated, 'Prioritizing the safety of New York residents remains my foremost commitment since assuming office, encompassing safeguards for children against addictive aspects of social media that promote overuse.' The regulation takes effect for accesses originating within the state. Additionally, the governor enacted two related measures last year to shield minors from online platform dangers.
Apprehension regarding social media's impact on adolescent psychological well-being continues to grow, prompting more regulatory responses from authorities. California has advanced a comparable proposal. Australia led globally this year by prohibiting social media access for minors, a step Denmark plans to emulate shortly.
In the previous year, the U.S. Surgeon General advocated for advisory labels on social media, citing research linking platform engagement to heightened levels of teen anxiety and depressive symptoms. The multifaceted threats to youth mental health from these services remain under ongoing investigation.
Contact has been made with Meta, Snap, and TikTok for their reactions, and any responses will be incorporated in updates.
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