Saratoga Standard

In the final days of the session, the New York State Assembly and Senate passed landmark legislation pertaining to the social media use of minors. The Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) Act for Kids prohibits the provision of addictive feeds to minors by platforms like TikTok, restricts notifications to covered minors during overnight hours, and establishes remedies and penalties. Additionally, the Child Data Protection Act protects minors from having their personal data accessed.

Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh (R,C-Ballston), a co-sponsor of this legislation, voted in favor of it in the Assembly Chamber.

"I have been an advocate for children throughout my legal career, and I’m honored to be a co-sponsor of this monumental legislation that will help to protect the safety of our most vulnerable. Our children’s mental and physical health is supremely important in New York state. We have invested millions into mental health services for our kids; this legislation goes hand in hand," said Walsh.

"Children’s privacy laws have not been updated for more than two decades, and as we all know, a lot has changed in that time. As a mother, I know all too well the risks social media can pose to our youth. I was proud to vote in favor of this legislation, and I hope this legislation will make a positive impact on many children and families across our state."