New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Friday a new law that will force social‑media platforms to put warning labels on features that can encourage excessive use, such as infinite scrolling, autoplay and algorithm‑driven feeds.
“We keep New Yorkers safe by protecting our kids from the potential harms of social‑media features that encourage excessive use,” Hochul said in a statement. The legislation specifically targets services that offer “addictive feeds,” a phrase the bill uses to define the kind of algorithmic content that keeps users engaged for long periods.
The law applies only while the platform’s activity takes place within New York, and it does not require labels if a user is physically outside the state. It authorizes the state attorney general to sue companies and impose civil fines of up to $5,000 for each violation.
Hochul compared the new labels to the warnings seen on tobacco products, which explain cancer risks, or on plastic packaging that cautions about the danger of suffocation to young children.
The measure follows similar legislation in states such as California and Minnesota, and Australia’s recent ban on children under 16 using social media platforms. Spokespeople for TikTok, Snap, Meta and Alphabet have not yet responded to requests for comment.
Parents, educators and lawmakers increasingly point to social media’s impact on young people’s mental health. In 2023, the U.S. Surgeon General issued an advisory recommending safeguards for children and urged the adoption of warning labels like the one now required in New York. Meanwhile, several U.S. school districts have filed lawsuits against Meta and other platforms over concerns about the effect of their content on students.
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