New York Social Media Rules for Kids Under 18 Begin in 2027

New York’s SAFE for Kids Act will restrict addictive feeds, overnight notifications and require stronger age verification beginning in January 2027

ALBANY, N.Y. — New rules are coming to social media platforms in New York that will change how children and teenagers under the age of 18 receive recommended content and notifications.

Governor Kathy Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the final regulations for the state’s Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation, or SAFE for Kids Act, on Tuesday, July 28.

The rules are scheduled to take effect on January 25, 2027, giving covered social media companies approximately six months to prepare for the new requirements.

What Will Change for Children Under 18?

Under the new rules, social media companies will generally be prohibited from automatically giving users under 18 an algorithmically personalized feed unless parental consent is obtained.

These feeds commonly recommend an endless stream of posts, videos and other content based on information collected about a user’s viewing habits, clicks, searches and previous online activity.

Without parental consent, minors will instead be shown content from accounts they intentionally follow or select. That content may be presented in chronological order or another predetermined sequence rather than being chosen by an engagement-based algorithm.

The restrictions do not mean teenagers will be completely banned from social media. Young users will still be able to search for content, follow accounts and access the platform’s general features.

Overnight Notifications Will Be Restricted

Covered social media platforms will also be prohibited from sending minors notifications connected to addictive feeds between midnight and 6 a.m. Eastern Time unless the child and parent complete the required consent process.

State officials say late-night notifications can interrupt sleep and encourage children to repeatedly return to social media platforms.

The New York Attorney General’s Office says the law was created in response to concerns that excessive social media use may contribute to depression, anxiety, sleep problems and other negative mental-health outcomes among young people.

Social Media Platforms Must Determine Users’ Ages

Companies covered by the law will be required to use an approved age-assurance process before giving users access to restricted features.

Possible verification methods may include:

• An uploaded image or video

• Verification through a phone number or email address

• Cross-checking other account information that may indicate a user’s age

• A government-issued identification document

However, platforms cannot require government identification as the only option. At least one alternative age-verification method must be available.

The rules also require platforms to collect only the minimum information necessary to determine a user’s age. Information collected for age verification or parental consent must be deleted or de-identified after it has served its intended purpose.

How Parental Consent Will Work

A minor who wants access to an algorithmically personalized feed or overnight notifications must actively request the feature and agree to have a parent or guardian notified.

The parent will then be required to complete an age-assurance process before permission can be granted.

Both the parent and the child must be allowed to withdraw their consent later. A platform cannot completely block a young person from using its service simply because parental consent was not provided.

Which Social Media Companies Are Covered?

The law applies to what New York defines as an “addictive online platform.”

This includes qualifying platforms that display user-generated content and where users spend at least 20% of their time viewing an algorithmically personalized or addictive feed over a six-month period.

The exact experience may vary from one app to another depending on whether the platform falls under the state’s definition and how it chooses to comply.

Companies Could Face Significant Penalties

The New York Attorney General’s Office will be responsible for enforcing the SAFE for Kids Act.

Companies found to be violating the law could face civil penalties of up to $5,000 for each violation, along with court orders requiring the company to stop the prohibited conduct.

What Central New York Families Should Know

Parents throughout Oneida County and Central New York may begin seeing social media platforms introduce new age checks, parental permission requests and account-setting changes before the January 2027 deadline.

Families should also be aware that the law primarily regulates how covered platforms deliver personalized feeds and notifications. It does not replace parental supervision, household technology rules or conversations with children about privacy and responsible online behavior.

The final rules are part of a broader effort by New York to regulate children’s use of technology. The state has also adopted restrictions on smartphones during the school day, protections involving children’s personal information and requirements addressing other potentially harmful online features.

When Do the New Rules Take Effect?

The final regulations were scheduled for publication in the New York State Register on July 29, 2026.

The SAFE for Kids Act will officially take effect 180 days later, on January 25, 2027.