"Addictive" Social Media Feeds That Keep Children Online Targeted by New York Lawmakers

New York would restrict the way online platforms like Instagram and YouTube can collect and share children's personal information and let parents keep their kids from being bombarded by "addictive" feeds from accounts they don't follow, under legislation proposed this week.

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The bills offered by state leaders are aimed at protecting young people from features designed to keep them endlessly scrolling, endangering their mental health and development, Attorney General Letitia James said.

"Young New Yorkers are struggling with record levels of anxiety and depression, and social media companies that use addictive features to keep minors on their platforms longer are largely to blame," James said. "This legislation will help tackle the risks of social media affecting our children and protect their privacy!" The regulations sought by James and Gov. Kathy Hochul, both Democrats, are similar to rules already in place in Europe, where violations could incur fines worth a percentage of revenue, which could run into the billions of dollars for wealthy tech companies.

Neither Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, nor YouTube immediately responded to requests for comment from those two California-based companies.