Spectrum News: Unions, Mental Health Professionals, Teachers Support Sen. Gounardes' Bills to Make Social Media Safer for Kids
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Twenty-six organizations across New York state have issued a memorandum of support for two pieces of legislation aimed at protecting children on social media as final budget negotiations continue.
The organizations, which include New York State United Teachers, the National Alliance on Mental Illness NY, the state School Boards Association, various Urban League branches and other organized labor, say the state Legislature should act now to pass the "Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act" and the "Child Data Protection Act."
The first would require parental or guardian consent in order for children under 18 to access predictive algorithms that tailor social media feeds specifically to them.
The latter would limit the ability of companies to collect personal data from children and monetize it.
"I think it will show that there is really significant support for taking the strongest possible legislative action to help curb and reign in the excess and the harmful effect that big tech is having on kids," state Sen. Andrew Gounardes, who sponsors both bills, said.
