Key points
- Age verification rules for under-18s
- Parental consent required for algorithms
- Late-night notifications to be blocked
NEW YORK: New York’s attorney general has proposed new regulations aimed at enforcing a law designed to curb addictive social media features for children, including rules for verifying users’ ages.
The Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act, passed last year, bans social media platforms from showing algorithmically personalised feeds to users under 18 without parental consent. Instead, minors would only see content from accounts they already follow on apps such as Instagram and TikTok, according to Reuters.
The legislation also prohibits platforms from sending notifications to under-18s between midnight and 6 am.
The newly proposed regulations outline how companies should verify a user’s age and obtain parental consent.
“Companies may confirm a user’s age using a number of existing methods, as long as the methods are shown to be effective and protect users’ data,” said Attorney General Letitia James’ office.
Confirming email
Examples of age verification include submitting an image or confirming email addresses or phone numbers against existing data, the office added.
Young users wishing to access algorithmic feeds or receive late-night notifications must authorise platforms to seek their parents’ consent.
Supporters of the SAFE Act argue that curated, algorithm-driven content is fuelling a mental health crisis among youth by dramatically increasing their time online.
“Children and teenagers are struggling with high rates of anxiety and depression because of addictive features on social media platforms,” said James as she released the draft regulations, which will be open for public comment over the next 60 days.
Age verification laws
Age verification laws are gaining momentum across the United States, with over 20 states passing similar legislation, though many face legal opposition from digital rights and free speech advocates.
James’ office also noted that some platforms, including Instagram, have started introducing their own age-checking tools.
“The incorporation of age assurance methods into the infrastructure of social media platforms is a positive development that demonstrates the technical and financial feasibility of age assurance methods for these platforms,” the office said. “Unfortunately, voluntary adoption of age assurance methods has not achieved the level of protection of minors required by the (SAFE) Act.”
Once the rules are finalised, social media firms will have 180 days to comply with the new requirements.
