New York restricts addictive social media feeds to protect children | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

The governor of the state of New York has signed legislation that aims to protect children’s mental health by regulating addictive social media feeds.

Governor Kathy Hochul took the step on Thursday.

The SAFE For Kids Act will require social media companies to restrict algorithmically driven feeds for users under the age of 18. It stipulates that users under 18 will not receive such addictive feeds unless parental consent is granted.

Hochul said: “We can tell the companies that you are not allowed to do this. You don’t have a right to do this, that parents should have say over their children’s lives and their health, not you.”

The move comes amid growing awareness of the need for measures to limit the negative impact of social media on children’s mental health.

In June, a high-ranking US government official in charge of public health policies called for warning labels on social media platforms, like the ones used for tobacco and alcohol products.

NetChoice, an organization of IT firms operating social media platforms, condemned the legislation.

The organization said, “This is an assault on free speech and the open internet by the State of New York.”