LICAB was proud to stand alongside advocates from across New York State, Attorney General Letitia James, and members of the New York State Senate and Assembly as Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law two groundbreaking pieces of legislation: the SAFE for Kids Act and the New York Child Data Protection Act.

This bipartisan, first-in-the-nation legislation marks a historic step forward in protecting children’s mental health and privacy in today’s digital age.

Every day, there is growing concern over the impact of social media on children. The SAFE for Kids Act directly addresses these fears by placing critical safeguards on how children interact with digital platforms—curbing addictive features and restricting the collection of their personal data.

“These laws give parents more control and help create a healthier online experience for kids,” said Joe Salamone, LICAB Executive Director. “They are essential tools in the broader effort to protect youth mental health and reduce cyberbullying.”

LICAB applauds New York’s leadership in putting children first and will continue to support initiatives that promote safer, more supportive environments for all students—both online and in the classroom.

June 20, 2024 — New York, NY — Governor Kathy Hochul signs nation-leading legislation to combat addictive social media feeds and protect kids online. Legislation S.07694A/A.08148A establishes the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) For Kids Act to require social media companies to restrict addictive feeds on their platforms for users under 18. Legislation S.07695B/A.08149A enables the New York Child Data Protection Act to prohibit online sites from collecting, using, sharing or selling personal dat