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New York Enacts SAFE for Kids Act Requiring Teen Warning Labels on Social Media

State leaders cite a U.S. Surgeon General advisory linking prolonged social media use to anxiety, depression and disrupted sleep.

Overview

  • Signed on Dec. 19, the law now requires platforms accessible to users under 18 in New York to display prominent on-screen warnings about mental health risks.
  • The labels must show for at least 10 seconds at log-on, reappear for 30 seconds after three hours of cumulative use, and recur once every additional hour.
  • Requirements apply to features such as autoplay, infinite scroll, algorithmic feeds, like counts and push notifications, affecting services like Instagram and TikTok.
  • The New York State Attorney General’s Office will enforce the statute, with civil penalties up to $5,000 per incident, and platforms cannot hide warnings in terms of service.
  • Compliance timelines and company responses have not been detailed, and lawmakers are advancing related proposals including selfie-based age verification and limits on teen data collection.