New York may have passed new laws making social media less addictive for kids, but real change is still a ways off

Close to four in 10 of the local high school students reported feeling so sad or hopeless that they stopped doing their usual activities, and those who considered suicide reached 16%, according to city data from 2021. — Image by freepik

The New York State Legislature has joined the ranks of lawmakers nationwide declaring the need to address the negative influence of social media on children. But whether the legislation can deliver on its goal to protect young people’s mental health will depend on its implementation and ability to survive potential legal challenges.

In the session’s final days, the legislature overwhelmingly passed a package to restrict “addictive” feeds on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, expected to be signed by Gov. Hochul into law.