Politico June 24, 2024
POLICY PUZZLE
New York’s the latest state to try to protect kids from potential mental health harms of social media.
Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation last week to require social media platforms to turn off personalized recommendation systems for kids, Ruth and our Rebecca Kern report.
It’s the first law to focus on the algorithms used by platforms like Facebook and TikTok to serve up customized content to users. It specifically bans the use of content feeds that are machine-learning-designed for kids under age 18 unless their parents give consent.
The backstory: With federal legislation stalled, states have taken a variety of approaches to regulate kids’ safety online. Some GOP-led states like Arkansas and Utah have required parental consent...