Hochul proposes sweeping laws to protect kids from online dangers and AI bots

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New York Governor Kathy Hochul Unveils Sweeping Laws to Protect Kids from Online Dangers and AI Bots

Governor Hochul has unveiled a new legislative package aimed at safeguarding New York's children from the perils of the online world. The ambitious proposals, part of her 2026 State of the State agenda, would not only regulate minors' use of social media but also prioritize their mental health.

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, excessive social media use has been linked to increased anxiety, depression, and disrupted sleep patterns among teenagers. In response, Governor Hochul's plan builds on previous measures, including a ban on smartphones in classrooms and the requirement of warning labels on platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

Under the new laws, social media sites would need to enhance age verification processes, allowing parents to monitor their children's financial transactions online. Platforms would also be required to disable AI chatbot features for minors, set the highest privacy settings by default, and restrict who can contact young users.

The legislation aims to create a nationwide standard for safeguarding kids' safety in both online and real-world environments. "These proposals will ensure our kids' safety," Governor Hochul stated in a statement.

In addition to strengthening online protections, the governor is also proposing to make teen mental health first aid training available to all 10th graders statewide. Furthermore, new training for adults working with youth in schools and community programs would be offered.

While social media giants like TikTok and Meta were yet to respond to requests for comment, Governor Hochul's plan marks a significant step forward in protecting New York's children from the dangers of the online world.
 
💡 I think it's super smart that Kathy Hochul is taking action to protect our kids online! As someone who's had their share of online drama back in the day, I totally get why we need stronger regulations in place. The fact that she's proposing AI chatbot restrictions and stricter social media monitoring for minors makes me feel like my parents (RIP 😂) finally understood what was going on when they told me to "just log off" 📴.

But seriously, it's about time we acknowledge the dangers of excessive social media use! My generation is still dealing with the consequences, and I know there are many kids who are struggling with anxiety, depression, or just feeling lost online. These laws might not be a silver bullet, but they're a step in the right direction 💖
 
I'm not sure if this is a good idea, but I guess it's better than nothing 🤔. I mean, social media can be super problematic especially for kids and teens. They're already going through so much at school and whatnot, they don't need to deal with online bullies and cyberstalkers too 😩. But like, isn't this a bit overbearing? Like, we're talking about banning smartphones in classrooms now? That's just not practical 🤦‍♀️.

And AI chatbots are cool, I guess, but disabling them for minors might not be the best idea either. My little cousin loves playing with these chatbots and it's actually pretty fun 😄. Plus, what if some parents don't want their kids using social media at all? That's like, a personal choice thing 🤷‍♀️.

I think the governor is trying to do something good here, though. We need more support for our kids' mental health and online safety 🙏. Maybe these laws will inspire other states to take action too 🌟.
 
🤔 gotta feel good about this 🌟 governor Hochul is really stepping up to protect our kids from all these online risks 😕 AI bots and social media can be super toxic for teens especially, anxiety and depression are no joke 🤯 its about time we take action to keep them safe 💯 I think requiring warning labels on platforms like Instagram and TikTok was a good idea, now they gotta do more 🚀
 
I mean I gotta say, this is kinda about time 🙄. Our kids are literally growing up with their faces glued to screens and it's getting outta hand! They need help, you know? I'm not saying social media is all bad, but moderation is key 🤯. These new laws are a good starting point, tho. Age verification needs to be on point, like, no more sneaky 13-year-olds signing up for adult accounts 🚫. And AI chatbots? Forget about it! My kid can't even have a convo with me without some creepy bot interrupting 🤖. Mental health support is also super important, 10th graders need to know how to deal with online drama and cyberbullying 🤝. It's all good, Governor Hochul is onto something 👏
 
I'm not sure about this new law 🤔. I mean, I get why we need to protect our kids, especially with AI bots and social media being so prevalent these days. But do we really need a blanket ban on smartphones in classrooms? That just seems like overkill, you know? What's the harm in letting them use their phones for educational purposes or emergencies?

And I'm also a bit skeptical about these age verification processes 💸. How are they even going to enforce that? It feels like another layer of bureaucracy to deal with. Plus, what about all the responsible parents out there who just want to keep an eye on their kids' online activity without being micromanaged?

I do think mental health training for teens is a great idea 🌱, though. That's something we should all be promoting. But let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater, you know? Let's have a nuanced discussion about how to balance our desire to protect kids with their need for freedom and autonomy.
 
I'm so hyped about this new bill! 😍 As someone who's super passionate about tech, I think it's awesome that Governor Hochul is taking steps to protect our kids' mental health and safety online. I mean, have you seen those AI chatbots? 🤖 They can be super creepy and manipulative, especially for minors. It's totally necessary to regulate their use.

I'm also loving the fact that this bill would require social media sites to prioritize age verification and privacy settings. That way, parents can keep an eye on what their kids are doing online and make sure they're not being exposed to too much drama or bullying. 💯 Plus, it's great that Governor Hochul is proposing mental health first aid training for teens - that could really make a difference in so many lives.

Of course, I know some people might be like "but won't this stifle free speech?" 🤔 And yeah, that's definitely something to consider. But honestly, I think the benefits of protecting our kids' online safety far outweigh any potential drawbacks. Let's get behind Governor Hochul and make New York a safer place for all! 💪
 
Wow 🤯! I think it's about time we take online safety seriously, especially when it comes to kids. I mean, AI bots can be super convincing and social media giants need to do better than just warning labels 😒. It's not enough to just disable chatbot features for minors, they need to make sure the whole platform is kid-friendly from the get-go 🤔.

I'm all for teen mental health first aid training, that's a great way to help kids develop healthy online habits and deal with any issues that might come up 💡. And making it available to all 10th graders statewide? That's amazing! 🎉
 
I'm all about this 🤩! Parents need more support with their kids' online safety, you know? The AI bots can be super manipulative and it's crazy how much they're used to get our kids hooked 📱💻. It's time for social media sites to step up their game and make it easier for parents to keep an eye on what their little ones are doing online. I mean, who wants their kid getting cyberbullied or exposed to weird stuff without even knowing? 🤯 Not me, that's for sure! The fact that Governor Hochul is taking this seriously and proposing some solid changes makes me feel like we're finally moving in the right direction 💪.
 
😔 This is such a great idea, I'm so glad Governor Hochul is taking action to protect our kids 🤗. I know how worried I get when I see my little one scrolling through social media for hours on end... it's like, they're missing out on so much fun in the real world 🌞! But seriously, mental health is just as important as physical health, and this plan is a huge step in the right direction 💖. It's about time we started prioritizing our kids' well-being over their screen time 📱. I'm hoping other states will follow suit too... this could make such a big difference in so many lives ❤️.
 
I think it's about time we take tech giants seriously when it comes to our kids' safety online 🤔. The idea that they need to disable AI chatbot features for minors and set default high privacy settings is a good start, but what really gets me is the fact that they'd have to restrict who can contact young users in the first place 👀. It's like, shouldn't we just expect them to do this already? The whole thing feels a bit... belated 🙄. On the other hand, I love the fact that Governor Hochul is pushing for mental health training in schools - that's something we can all get behind 💡.
 
I think this is about time we start taking care of our kids' mental health and online safety... I mean, who doesn't remember when we were teenagers and thought social media was invincible 🙄? Now that my grandkids are growing up, I see how scary it can be for them to navigate the online world. As a retiree, I've seen how anxiety and depression have become super common issues among younger folks, and it's heartbreaking 😔.

I love that Governor Hochul is taking proactive steps to regulate social media use and mental health education. It's not just about protecting kids from online dangers, but also making sure they're equipped with the skills to deal with their emotions and relationships in a healthy way 🤝. And let's be real, parents need help too! The fact that there will be training for adults working with youth is genius 👏.

This is a great start, and I hope other states take notice and follow suit. As a nation, we can do better by our kids ❤️.
 
omg yaaas 🤩 governor hochul is literally saving the kids 🙌 i'm so down for these new laws, like totally necessary 💯 we gotta protect our youth from those AI bots and social media drama 😂 and i love that she's also pushing for mental health training 🧠💖 it's time to prioritize our kids' well-being and safety online and offline 💕 the fact that tiktok and meta aren't responding yet is kinda expected lol 🙄 but anyway, governor hochul is a total rockstar 💫 keep up the great work! 👏
 
Ugh, I'm all for this 🙌! As a parent myself, it's crazy how much pressure our kids are under on social media these days. I mean, have you seen those Instagram ads? They're like, super targeted and stuff... it's just not healthy for teens. The AI chatbots need to be disabled ASAP ⚠️. My younger sibling is already getting the drama from cyberbullies, and it's breaking my heart 🤕. At least this plan aims to create some consistency across platforms, so our kids can finally feel safe online (or at least try to 😒). I'm all for those mental health first aid trainings too - we need more support for teens dealing with anxiety and depression... it's like, they're already struggling enough in school 🤓. Bring on this change! 💪
 
I'm totally down for this 🤩! As someone who's grown up with social media, I know how easy it is to get sucked into the endless scroll and lose track of time... or even just feel super anxious about what others are doing online 😳. It's awesome that NY is taking steps to protect our youth from all the potential dangers out there. Like, disabling AI chatbots on platforms for minors makes total sense - we don't want them getting manipulated by fake friends or something 🤖! I'm also stoked about the mental health first aid training for teens - it's a great way to teach kids how to look out for themselves and prioritize their own well-being 💕. Let's hope other states follow suit and create some real change for our young people 👍
 
I mean, finally someone's taking this whole "protecting kids" thing seriously 🙄. Like, it's about time someone cracked down on those social media giants and their sneaky AI bots. I'm not sure what's more concerning, though - the fact that they're just going to disable features or that parents are still letting their kids use Instagram at 10 🤣. And let's be real, warning labels aren't exactly going to cut it... we need actual change here. Still, kudos to Governor Hochul for taking a stand 💁‍♀️. Maybe one day we'll actually see some real progress 🤞.
 
OMG, you know what they say "online is offline"... just kidding! 😂 I'm actually serious though, it's about time someone took action to protect our kiddos from those pesky AI bots and social media craziness. I mean, who thought 10-year-olds needed a TikTok addiction treatment plan? 🤣 Just kidding, it's about mental health and safety, y'know?

Governor Hochul is like the ultimate superhero, saving the world one law at a time! 💪 But for real, these proposals are pretty solid. I mean, who doesn't want to ensure their kid can finally take a break from Instagram without getting anxiety attacks? 🤷‍♀️ The more AI chatbots get shut down, the better! 👍 So here's to Governor Hochul and her squad – may they save the world one social media regulation at a time! 💥
 
I'm so done with these new proposed laws... 🙄 Like what's next? Are we gonna have to get permission from parents to breathe? The whole idea of age verification on social media is just a drop in the bucket, you know? I mean, how hard is it for AI chatbots to be disabled anyway?

And let's not even get started on the warning labels. Like, come on! We're not going to take down the entire internet just because some kids are getting anxious from scrolling through Instagram 🤦‍♀️. And what about all the legit users who aren't trying to harm anyone? It's just gonna be a bunch of unnecessary red tape.

I'm all for protecting our youth, but we can't just shut down the online world like it's some kind of toxic wasteland... 🌪️ The governor's plan is a good start, I guess, but there needs to be more nuance and less knee-jerk reactions.
 
idk why ppl are already trashing governor hochul 🙄 these new laws r like 4 good, especially w/ AI chatbots 2 minors, gotta protect kids from all da negative stuff on the web 🤖. mental health is super important 2, so it's awesome she's proposin' teen mental health first aid training 4 every 10th grader 👍. i'm not sure w/ social media giants, tho 🤑 they're always tryna cover their tracks, but hey, governor hochul's just tryna do what's best 4 her constituents 💯
 
😊 AI bots are getting super smart, but I think we need some more boundaries around how they're used, especially with kids 🤖. It's crazy to think that excessive social media use can lead to anxiety and depression in teens - like, what's the point of having a phone if it's just gonna mess with your mental health? 😒

I love that Governor Hochul is taking this seriously, though. I mean, she wants to make sure kids are safe online AND offline 📚👍. The idea of requiring social media sites to disable AI chatbot features for minors and set high privacy settings by default makes total sense - we need some adult supervision around here! 👩‍🎓

And yay for teen mental health first aid training becoming available statewide! That's a great way to help young people develop skills to cope with the pressures of online life 🤝. Can't wait to see how this all plays out 💻
 
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