New York Governor Ho Cho and State Attorney General Jan Leesia officially announced on July 28 the final implementation details of the “Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation for Children Act” (SAFE for Kids Act). This act prohibits technology companies from providing algorithm-driven content and late-night push notifications to minors without parental consent, in order to protect the mental health of teenagers.
The new regulations will be published in the State Government Gazette on July 29 and will officially take effect 180 days later on January 25, 2027. Violating platforms could face civil fines of up to $5,000 per violation.
“Today, we send a clear message: our children’s mental health is not a commodity,” Ho Cho stated in a press release. “We are committed to taking action, and the SAFE for Kids Act ensures that platforms targeting children with addictive content will face legal consequences. Children will no longer be immersed in clicking and swiping screens, but in learning and growth.”
Citing research findings, Ho Cho pointed out that children aged 10 to 14 are already exhibiting signs of social media addiction. The more time children spend on social media, the greater the likelihood of negative mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, eating disorders, and sleep disturbances.
According to the final version of the regulations, users under 18 who have not obtained parental consent will only see posts from accounts they actively follow. Platforms are prohibited from sending push notifications to minors between midnight and 6 a.m., requiring age verification and parental consent standards, annual accuracy testing, and storing records for at least five years.
“Regulatory provisions have been put in place, and you have 180 days to comply,” Ho Cho emphasized. “Once the law takes effect in January, any attempts to bombard our young people with addictive content will face legal repercussions. This is part of curbing the larger actions of big tech companies.”
The final regulations apply to any user who spends at least 20% of their active time over any six-month period on platforms with addictive content. However, this requirement does not apply to platforms with less than 5 million global monthly active users or less than 20,000 underage users.
State Attorney General Jan Leesia stated that the SAFE for Kids Act sets a new standard for protecting children’s online safety across the United States. The final regulations balance child safety, privacy protection, and parental supervision, requiring tech companies to fulfill their obligations to protect minors.
The advocacy group “Common Sense Media” praised New York for leading the nation in addressing social media addiction design.