ALBANY, NY (Erie News Now)--ONLINE SAFETY FOR CHILDREN IS A PRIORITY FOR some LEGISLATIVE LEADERS AND state LAWMAKERS.

“We have a responsibility to respond to crisis in the state of New York and we want our children protected online. Not monetized, not commoditized, and not at the expense of their mental health,” said New York State Attorney General Letitia James.

THE TWO BILLS BOTH TRY TO PROTECT KIDS ONLINE IN DIFFERENT WAYS.  

ONE BILL, THE ‘STOP ADDICTIVE FEEDS EXPLOITATION FOR KIDS’ OR THE SAFE ACT PROHIBITS ADDICTIVE FEEDS FOR MINORS WITHOUT PARENTAL CONSENT.  

IF PASSED, IT WOULD ALSO ALLOW THE PRIVATE RIGHT TO ACTION WHICH MEANS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND PARENTS COULD SUE SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES WHO VIOLATE THIS LAW.  

“We see the data is very clear that the algorithm is driving a significant increase in mental health harms to young people. The rates of self-harm, depression, self-esteem issues, suicidal ideations are just skyrocketing all linked to the use of algorithms in social media feeds, so we want to regulate that,” said Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-26th Senate District). 

ANOTHER BILL, THE NEW YORK CHILD DATA PROTECTION ACT WOULD PROTECT KIDS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 FROM HAVING THEIR DATA SOLD WITHOUT CONSENT.  

SEN. GOUNARDES SAid IT’S CRITICAL LAWMAKERS PASS THIS LEGISLATION THIS SESSION.  

“Congress has not acted in more than twenty-five years to protect kids online, it's up to us at the state level to step in and do the right thing and protect these kids,” he said.