New York's ban on addictive social media feeds for kids takes shape with
proposed rules
[September 16, 2025]
By CAROLYN THOMPSON
New York’s attorney general on Monday proposed regulations for its
crackdown on addictive social media feeds for children, including rules
for verifying a user’s age.
The Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act, passed last
year, prohibits social media companies from showing feeds personalized
by algorithms to users under 18 unless they have a parent's consent.
Instead, feeds on apps like TikTok and Instagram would be limited to
posts from accounts young users follow.
The law also bars companies from sending notifications to users under 18
between midnight and 6 a.m.
The proposed rules for implementing the provisions include standards for
determining a user’s age and parental consent.
“Companies may confirm a user’s age using a number of existing methods,
as long as the methods are shown to be effective and protect users’
data,” Attorney General Letitia James' office said.
Options for confirming a user is at least 18, for example, include
requesting an uploaded image or verifying a user’s email address or
phone number to check against other information, the office said.
Users under 18 who want to receive algorithmic feeds and nighttime
notifications would have to give the companies permission to request
consent from a parent.
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 Supporters of the law said curated
feeds built from user data are contributing to a youth mental health
crisis by vastly increasing the hours young people spend on social
media.
“Children and teenagers are struggling with high
rates of anxiety and depression because of addictive features on
social media platforms,” James said in releasing the rules, which
are subject to a 60-day public comment period.
Online age check laws — on the rise in the U.S. — have garnered
opposition from groups that advocate for digital privacy and free
speech. More than 20 states have passed age verification laws,
though many face legal challenges.
The New York attorney general's office noted Instagram and other
social media platforms themselves have been implementing various
forms of age assurance in recent months.
“The incorporation of age assurance methods into the infrastructure
of social media platforms is a positive development that
demonstrates the technical and financial feasibility of age
assurance methods for these platforms,” the office said.
“Unfortunately, voluntary adoption of age assurance methods has not
achieved the level of protection of minors required by the (SAFE)
Act."
After the rules are finalized, social media companies will have 180
days to implement the regulations.
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