New York Governor Signs Bill Restricting Social Media Algorithms for Minors

The first-in-the-nation laws are expected to face legal challenges from the tech industry.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signs a bill in New York on June 20, 2024. Hochul signed a bill that would allow parents to block their children from getting social media posts suggested by a platform's algorithm, a move to limit feeds critics argue are addictive. Office of the New York Governor via AP

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on June 20 signed into law a pair of bills aimed at curbing “addictive” social media use among children and teenagers across the state.

The Democrat governor, who has been advocating for the first-in-the-nation measures since October 2023, highlighted the role algorithm-driven social media feeds are playing in the rise of mental health problems among young New Yorkers.