Bill > A10841

This bill amends the general business law to establish new protections for minors online, particularly concerning social media platforms and harmful content. It defines key terms such as "account holder" (a resident using a social media platform), "material harmful to minors" (content appealing to prurient interest, depicting sexual conduct offensively, and lacking serious value for minors), and "social media platform" (online services with user-generated content, algorithms, and addictive features like infinite scrolling or push notifications). The bill mandates that social media platforms prohibit children under 14 from creating accounts and require parental consent for 14 and 15-year-olds to have accounts, with provisions for account termination and data deletion. It also requires platforms to implement age verification methods, either "anonymous age verification" (using a third-party not controlled by foreign entities) or "standard age verification" (as approved by the platform), before distributing "material harmful to minors" to prevent access by those under 18, with exceptions for news organizations and internet service providers. Enforcement is granted to the Attorney General, who can bring actions for injunctions, restitution, civil penalties up to $50,000 per violation, and punitive damages for patterns of knowing and reckless conduct, and individuals can also bring civil actions for damages.

Business and Industry

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A10841