A proposed New York law aims to mandate age verification for social media platforms under the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) For Kids Act. Recently, New York Attorney General Letitia James outlined these proposed regulations, which would prohibit access to algorithm-driven feeds and nighttime notifications for users under 18 unless their age is verified.
According to the rules, unverified users and minors would only be able to view chronological feeds or content from accounts they follow. Additionally, notifications would be restricted between midnight and 6 AM. The legislation outlines various acceptable methods for age verification, provided they protect users’ data, including alternatives to submitting government identification, such as biometric facial scans to estimate age.
Children wanting access to more engaging content would need parental permission, which would also require a verification process. The proposed guidelines stipulate that user data must be deleted immediately following age verification.
The SAFE For Kids Act will apply to platforms offering user-generated content where users spend 20% or more of their time on personalized, algorithmic feeds. It could impact major platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Non-compliance could result in fines of up to $5,000 per violation and other potential penalties.
The proposal follows concerns about rising anxiety and depression rates among youth attributed to social media features. A public comment period lasting 60 days will commence, after which the Attorney General’s Office has one year to finalize the rules. The law would take effect 180 days post-finalization but is expected to encounter significant opposition. Critics like NetChoice and the Electronic Frontier Foundation have voiced concerns, suggesting the act may infringe on free speech rights for adults.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/778177/ny-safe-act-online-age-verification-social-media-proposed-rules