NEW YORK STATE — Legislation to combat addictive social media feeds and protect kids online has been signed into law in New York state.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, Gov. Kathy Hochul, and bill sponsors Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Nily Rozic attended the bill-signing ceremony along with the union leaders, advocates, parents, and children who worked to help these bills advance during the legislative session.

The first bill signed into law, the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) For Kids Act, will require social media companies to restrict addictive feeds on their platforms for users under 18. 

The second bill, the New York Child Data Protection Act, will prohibit online sites from collecting, using, sharing or selling personal data of anyone under 18 unless they receive informed consent or unless doing so is strictly necessary for the purpose of the website.

With this newly signed legislation, New York has established the nation’s most stringent protections to safeguard kids on social media, a news release stated.