Bill would ban algorithmic feeds for teens, eliminating a tool for content moderation
On Friday, the New York legislature passed digital legislation (S7694/A8148) banning the use of algorithms to curate teen social media feeds. Despite recent amendments, the legislation restricts teen access to valuable online resources and safe, inclusive community spaces. By limiting teen access to speech and by interfering with platforms’ content curation decisions, the bill also faces a possible constitutional challenge.
“New York’s digital legislation is going to backfire on the teens that it’s supposed to protect,” said Chamber of Progress CEO Adam Kovacevich. “Algorithms are an important tool for curating social media feeds and removing hate and harmful content from teenagers’ feeds. By banning algorithms and deciding what social media sites get to publish, New York’s digital legislation is likely headed for a First Amendment showdown.”
Jess Miers, Senior Counsel at Chamber of Progress, published a new analysis explaining how the revised version of the bill is likely still unconstitutional. Read her analysis: New York’s Revised “SAFE for Kids Act” Still Faces a Legal Minefield.
A new survey conducted by Common Sense Media found teenagers overwhelming valued algorithmically-curated feeds in their social media services. Seventy-six percent of social media users aged 14 to 22 used tools to control content they did not want to see in their feeds. Chamber of Progress wrote to Governor Hochul highlighting that the legislation would eliminate teenagers’ ability to curate their feeds.
For more on the harmful impacts of New York’s digital legislation, visit StopNYDigitalBills.com.
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Chamber of Progress (progresschamber.org) is a center-left tech industry policy coalition promoting technology’s progressive future. We work to ensure that all Americans benefit from technological leaps, and that the tech industry operates responsibly and fairly.
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