Governor Hochul says social media restrictions top priority

With weeks before the end of the Albany legislative session, Gov. Kathy Hochul is prioritizing passage of a measure aimed at cracking down on what she says is young New Yorkers’ addiction to social media.

“I know about this crisis because New York teenagers told me it themselves, in their own words,” Hochul said at a news conference in Albany on Wednesday. “When you hear the pain in their voices, it hits you right here. Because we are programmed to make life easier and more joyful. Childhood is supposed to be a joyous and happy time.

The governor is pushing to pass a law that would change the way teens view content on social media.

The governor pointed to data showing that children under 18 suffer mental health issues, like anxiety and depression, directly linked to the time they spend online.

The bills would require age verification on some apps and, in some cases, parental consent.

Companies would also be required to change how information appears through an algorithmic feed. Hochul even admitted that she struggled as a teenager.

“The high school years can be difficult. I wasn’t the cool kid on campus. There was a lot of loneliness, but I never experienced constant bombardment to reinforce those feelings. I could find escapes. I found other places to go. I had a job. I made pizza and wings for most of high school,” she said.

“These algorithms are like heat-seeking missiles that seek out and prey on the insecurities and vulnerabilities of young users, latch onto them, and exploit them for profit,” said Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Brooklyn). , sponsor of the bill.

But the agreement is not yet concluded.

“We are, I hope, very close. There is urgency, a deep sense of urgency to act,” added Gounardes.

Recent reports show that tech companies like Meta and Google have invested a lot of money in lobbying efforts against the legislation.

A Siena College poll released Wednesday shows New York voters also support banning addictive foods by a margin of 63 percent to 20 percent.

“Voters are on her side on this issue, as she has been on other issues, even though it hasn’t necessarily improved her poll numbers, but, I mean, Hochul on this issue is certainly on the voters’ side,” pollster Steve Greenberg said in an interview with NY1.

Hochul said she’s not giving up and would like to go even further and ban children from using their phones at school.

The governor also has the support of Democratic state Attorney General Letitia James, whose office helped draft the legislation.