June 3 (Reuters) – New York is planning to prohibit
social media companies from using algorithms to control content
to youth without parental consent under a tentative agreement
reached by state lawmakers, the Wall Street Journal reported on
Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.
Social media platforms have in recent years come under
scrutiny for its addictive nature and impact on the youth.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said in February that his
administration has filed a lawsuit against social media
companies including Meta Platforms’ Facebook and
Instagram for fueling mental health crisis among the youth.
The legislation is aimed at preventing social media
companies from serving automated feeds to minors, the report
said.
The bill, which is still being finalized but expected to be
voted on this week, would also prohibit platforms from sending
minors notifications during overnight hours without parental
consent, the WSJ said.
In March, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that
bans children aged under 14 from social media platforms and
requires 14- and 15-year-olds to get parental consent, a measure
supporters say will protect them from online risks to their
mental health.
Utah became the first U.S. state to adopt laws regulating
children’s access to social media, in March last year, followed
by others including Arkansas, Louisiana, Ohio and Texas.
Shares of Meta and Snap were down about 1% in
extended trading.
(Reporting by Harshita Mary Varghese; Editing by Maju Samuel)
