New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has unveiled a sweeping legislative package aimed at safeguarding children from the perils of online predation, manipulative AI chatbots, and hazardous social media features.
As part of her 2026 State of the State agenda, Hochul's proposals would not only enhance age verification processes for social media platforms but also grant parents unprecedented control over their underage users' financial transactions. This includes allowing parents to monitor their children's online activities and requiring platforms to disable AI chatbot features designed specifically for minors.
Additionally, social media sites would be compelled to adopt the highest level of privacy settings by default, including location tracking restrictions and limiting who can contact young users. Moreover, TikTok and Meta, owners of Instagram and other popular platforms, have been left reeling as they were not immediately available to comment on Hochul's proposals.
In a bid to strengthen online safety, Hochul is also proposing the implementation of nation-leading standards that would protect children from online threats in both real-world and digital environments. Furthermore, teen mental health first aid training would be made available to all 10th graders statewide, complemented by adult training for those who work with youth in schools and community programs.
With anxiety, depression, and disrupted sleep linked to excessive social media use, Hochul's proposals represent a significant escalation in the state's efforts to regulate minors' online activities. Building on previous actions such as banning smartphones in classrooms and implementing warning labels on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, Hochul aims to create a safer digital landscape for New York's youth.
As part of her 2026 State of the State agenda, Hochul's proposals would not only enhance age verification processes for social media platforms but also grant parents unprecedented control over their underage users' financial transactions. This includes allowing parents to monitor their children's online activities and requiring platforms to disable AI chatbot features designed specifically for minors.
Additionally, social media sites would be compelled to adopt the highest level of privacy settings by default, including location tracking restrictions and limiting who can contact young users. Moreover, TikTok and Meta, owners of Instagram and other popular platforms, have been left reeling as they were not immediately available to comment on Hochul's proposals.
In a bid to strengthen online safety, Hochul is also proposing the implementation of nation-leading standards that would protect children from online threats in both real-world and digital environments. Furthermore, teen mental health first aid training would be made available to all 10th graders statewide, complemented by adult training for those who work with youth in schools and community programs.
With anxiety, depression, and disrupted sleep linked to excessive social media use, Hochul's proposals represent a significant escalation in the state's efforts to regulate minors' online activities. Building on previous actions such as banning smartphones in classrooms and implementing warning labels on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, Hochul aims to create a safer digital landscape for New York's youth.
Now, we're dealing with AI chatbots and online predation like it's the Wild West out there! I'm all for Hochul's proposals, though - as a parent, the thought of being able to monitor your child's online activities without having to resort to snooping around their room is a huge weight off my shoulders. 
Those AI chatbots are basically just digital predators waiting to happen, and we need stricter regulations in place ASAP! 
And let's not forget about the mental health aspect - I've seen too many teens struggling with anxiety and depression because of excessive social media use. It's about time we take action and prioritize our youth's well-being. 
I just hope these proposals don't end up being another Band-Aid on a bullet wound, you know? 
. Like, who hasn't heard those horror stories on the internet? 
As a parent myself, I'm all about gettin my kid's financial info under control, 'specially when it comes to social media - it's like, how are we even supposed to know what's goin on in their online world? 
The idea of having default privacy settings & location tracking restrictions is like, a total game-changer 
That's some major love right there 
. I do wonder if the big social media sites are gonna comply tho... 
I hope Hochul's team has thought this through carefully before implementing these changes 
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She's proposing some major changes like AI chatbot restrictions, parental controls over financial transactions, and stricter privacy settings on social media platforms. it's about time we take online safety seriously! 
i hope this is a step in the right direction for our kids' well-being. Fingers crossed 
this is getting out of hand, i mean im all for keeping kids safe online but come on, its 2026 already we cant even have a conversation without someone proposing more "safety" measures 
and what about the impact on free speech, ill give it to Hochul she sounds like shes trying to do something good but we need to be careful not to overstep 
I remember when I was younger, we didn't even have social media, let alone these fake friends and filters. Anyway, I think it's awesome that she wants to give parents more control over their kids' online activities. Like, how can they even know what's going on if they're not allowed to monitor? 
That's like, so important. We need to teach these kids how to deal with anxiety and depression before it gets out of hand. And yeah, I can see why TikTok and Meta are not commenting on this... they're probably trying to avoid the drama 
. And can we talk about how TikTok and Meta are MIA on this one? 
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. i mean, what's next? are they gonna take away our kids' wifi too? just thinking about all these new rules and restrictions is giving me anxiety 
maybe its time for us to take a step back and reassess what we're sharing online.
I don’t think anyone likes the idea of AI chatbots preying on vulnerable kids... it just feels so wrong. And yeah, having stricter privacy settings and monitoring features would be a huge step in the right direction 
. As for TikTok and Meta not commenting on this... um, isn't that like, super suspicious? 
And what about free speech? Are we gonna start censoring social media too? That sounds super creepy 
. I mean, have you ever tried to navigate all the settings on social media for your own kid? It’s like a whole different world out there! 
. And can we talk about how scary those AI chatbots are?! 
They already feel like they know us or something, it’s wild! 
I love that Gov Hochul is pushing for more control over our kids’ online activities and for social media sites to prioritize their safety above all else 
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