NY passes legislation to ban social media platforms from using “addictive” recommendation algorithms for users under 18; Gov. Hochul is likely to sign the bill
The New York state legislation will ban social media platforms from algorithmically recommending content to children.
NBC NewsKat Tenbarge
Context & Ripple Effects
New York’s legislative move is the opening step in a broader state-level effort to govern youth-facing platform design rather than only content. The coverage later records that Hochulsigned the youth-protection measures, turning the proposal into an operational compliance issue for social platforms.
Social platforms serving New York users under 18 would need to stop algorithmic content recommendations characterized by the law as addictive, if the bill becomes law.
The measure puts youth accounts, recommendation systems, and notification practices under immediate legal and product-policy scrutiny; Hochul’s expected signature would move the issue from legislative risk to implementation.
Second-order effects
Platforms may favor age-segmented product experiences and more conservative default feeds for minors, since a single service design can be difficult to reconcile with state-specific youth rules.
California’s subsequent action shows how one state’s model can become a reference point for other state lawmakers, increasing the value of compliance approaches that can work across jurisdictions.
Third-order effects
Youth-safety policy is shifting toward regulation of engagement mechanics—recommendation and notification design—not merely moderation of individual posts.
If this pattern persists, major platforms may face a fragmented state rulebook for minors, encouraging standardized youth modes while leaving the boundaries of “addictive” design to legislation and enforcement.
The trend: States are increasingly treating algorithmic engagement features for minors as a product-governance target, with age-based access and interface rules becoming a central regulatory tool.
BIG: Safe for Kids Act has passed the NY Assembly Hochul expected to sign legislation to make NY first state to restrict algorithmic social media feeds for minors Final vote: 142-1 Sponsored by Nily Rozic in Assembly, Andrew Gounardes in Senate
Once again, our state is leading the nation and protecting our kids and their mental health. These bills my office advanced will limit harmful social media features and safeguard kids' online data.
The SAFE for Kids Act will stop social media platforms from offering addictive feeds to users under 18 and the New York Child Data Protection Act will protect these young people's privacy. It's a big step that @aftunion @nysut @uft are celebrating! https://www.nysut.org/...
The governor of New York is desperately trying to change the subject. The #1 killer of kids, by far, for decades has been cars. If she cared about the wellbeing of children she would implement congestion pricing. She is throwing NY kids under the wheels of New Jersey drivers. [im…
This legislation will serve as a model for other states to follow and curb the most dangerous aspects of social media to protect children online. I applaud @AndreaSCousins, @CarlHeastie, and the legislature for passing these bills, and I look forward to them becoming law.
Our kids are enduring a mental health crisis, and social media is fueling the fire. Today, New York passed historic legislation my office worked on with @GovKathyHochul, @Sen_Gounardes, and @nily to put our kids' mental health above big tech's profits.
NEW: New York just passed nation-leading legislation to combat addictive social media feeds and protect kids online. Grateful to @NewYorkStateAG and our partners in the Legislature for working with us to advance the SAFE for Kids Act and the New York Child Data Protection Act.
Passing these groundbreaking bills wouldn't have been possible without the hard work of @nily, @NewYorkStateAG + @GovKathyHochul, as well as the tireless advocacy of @wearemama, @CommonSense and the parents, teachers, doctors and young people who stood up for what's right.