Saturday, June 8, 2024

Social Media Algorithms Barred From Recommending Content To Kids In New York As New Legislation Comes Into Play

A new legislation in New York was passed yesterday that bars social media algorithms from recommending content to underage users.

The latest move is designed to stop addictive apps from throwing explicit and harmful material in kids’ direction. Moreover, it’s mentioned how the state Governor is expected to sign this new law into the bill.

The passing of the bill is giving parents a huge sigh of relief as many spoke about how it was a long time coming.

This means saying hello to how kids use social media from now onwards and that means a lot.

The latest act will inhibit apps that are popular with the younger generation like TikTok and Instagram from rolling out content to those below a certain age group, and by that, we mean the minimal 18-year age limit.

Therefore, apps would now be forced to work in a reverse chronological manner that is rarely seen in today’s modern time.

The new law explains how such algorithms are said to be very addictive in nature and can have negative impacts on the mental health of young minds.

They have a tendency to roll out material that is prioritized and linked to users on certain devices. This compels state AGs from disseminating regulations that need to be enforced. Hence, any firm that violates this needs one month to correct the matter or would be liable to pay hefty fines that no tech giant would ever wish.

The bill was amended to get rid of provisions banning apps from rolling out alerts to kids between midnight to 6am hours. Moreover, laws limiting social media use for kids are not only a popular subject of debate on a local level but one that has been talked about in detail on an international level.

Companies causing harm to young minds are being shunned while others are being pressed to do more to help ensure they remain protected at all times.

Experts predict how such a bill might bring about challenges when signed into law. Furthermore, we had one trade group representing leading tech and social media firms talk about how such laws are not fair and bar apps from functioning in a certain manner, adding that they’re not in line with the American First Amendment.

Others accused the decision of having significant political weightage and therefore digital rights groups argue in terms of what the real motive here is.

Image: DIW-Aigen

Read next: Survey Reveals PR Pros' Social Media Secrets: LinkedIn Dominates, X Left in the Dust!
by Dr. Hura Anwar via Digital Information World

No comments:

Post a Comment