Governor Kathy Hochul issued a statement on Mar. 25 following a jury decision that found Meta and Youtube liable for creating products that led to harmful and addictive behavior among minors.
The issue of social media’s impact on children has been an ongoing concern, with calls for stronger protections at both the state and national level.
Hochul said, “This landmark verdict is a victory for kids and parents across the nation. I’ve heard firsthand from our young people about the harms posed by addictive social media algorithms –- and that’s why New York led the nation in 2024 by enacting the SAFE for Kids Act, the nation’s strongest law restricting these deeply addictive algorithms for minors statewide.”
She continued, “We’ve continued New York’s nation-leading commitment to our kids by getting phones out of our schools statewide and passing first-in-the nation safeguards for ‘AI companions.’ And earlier this year I announced new plans go even further, with proposals to protect kids from predators, scammers and harmful AI chatbots on online platforms. As the digital age gets more complex day by day, I’ll never stop fighting to protect our kids.”
The governor’s remarks reflect ongoing efforts in New York to address concerns over technology use among children. Recent legislative actions include restrictions on certain algorithms as well as measures aimed at limiting device usage in schools.
Looking ahead, Hochul indicated her administration will continue seeking new ways to safeguard children online as digital challenges evolve.