(The Center Square) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday proposed a series of new parental controls, as well as privacy and safety requirements, for social media companies as part of broader efforts to reduce mental health issues among teens.
In a highlight of her upcoming State of the State address, Hochul said she plans to push for passage of a package of legislation expanding requirements for platforms to verify a user’s age, including online game platforms, require social media sites to set kids accounts to the highest privacy settings, by default, and require children under 13 must to get parental approval for new connections, among other changes.
Hochul said the proposals, which require legislative approval, would give kids “the tools and safeguards they need to contend with the unprecedented mental health challenges and real world dangers that can sometimes be a byproduct of navigating today’s digital world.”
“These proposals will create a nation-leading standard that will ensure our kids’ safety in online and real world environments where they spend time,” the Democrat said in a statement.
Another proposal floated by Hochul would make Teen Mental Health First Aid training available to all 10th graders. The nationally recognized curriculum introduces common mental health challenges faced by youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan for helping young people in both crisis and non-crisis situations.
The Hochul administration said the training, which would be available to more than 180,000 students annually, is designed for young people between the ages 15 and 18 “so they can identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges in their friends and peers.”
Social media companies are increasingly being blamed for the rising rates of depression, suicidality and other mental health issues among youth nationally. In response, New York and other states and local governments are increasingly considering legislation and legal action to crack down on social media use among teens. A recent Gallup poll found at least 51% of American teens were using social media apps at least four hours a day.
In 2024, Hochul signed a pair of bills banning social media platforms from exposing teenagers to “addictive” algorithmic content without parental consent and prohibiting social platforms from showing suggested posts to people under 18 without parental consent.
Last month, New York became one of a handful of states requiring social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to display warning labels for New York minors about their “addictive design” features. The others are California, Minnesota, Texas and Colorado. The high-tech industry is expected to challenge the new regulations.
Hochul is scheduled to deliver her State of the State address on Jan. 13 in the Assembly chamber in Albany, when she will provide more details of her proposals.
