Restricting social media: New York teens, tech leader speak on landmark algorithm law

Rochester, New York – On Monday, the US Surgeon General proposed a fresh initiative to require warning labels on social media sites.

This coincides with the passage of a historic measure by the New York State Senate and Assembly earlier this month that aims to prohibit anyone under the age of 18 from using social media.

Social media is a part of practically everyone’s life, for better or ill. It keeps you in touch with the outside world and allows algorithms to customize your feed based on interests.

Governor Kathy Hochul wants to remove those algorithms for children under the age of eighteen.
This month’s measure criticizes algorithms that customize feeds based on an individual’s preferences for the terrible consequences they have on kids and teenagers.

The CEO and creator of Chamber of Progress, Adam Kovacevich, makes this claim.

“I think, unfortunately, some people got it in lawmakers heads that algorithms are the problem, when I believe algorithms are actually what makes social media healthier for teenagers,” he said.

Kovachevich asserts that teens do desire personalized social media content based on their interests. Teenagers surveyed for a Common Sense Media research expressed a desire to deprioritize spam content.

However, some Rochester residents find targeted content offensive.

“There have been some scary times when me and my dad are talking about certain golf clubs, and then I get a video of that golf club,” said Evan Lukasiewicz of Webster.

James Vincent, a friend of Lukasiewicz’s, claims to have had such encounters.

“It’s a little uncomfortable,” Vincent said. “It feels like the companies are just listening to us all the time. It’s very stressful.”

The U.S. surgeon general is advocating for warning labels that would alert parents to the possibility that the platform could harm their child’s mental health.

Politicians, in Kovacevich’s opinion, aren’t paying attention to the people who the measure would directly touch.

“For many teenagers, it’s actually the way they’re staying more connected to their peers,” said Kovacevich. “So, I think the picture is a lot more nuanced than policymakers really took the time to understand.”

John Knapic-Clauser, a Webster teen, finds it a little unsettling that social media firms are aware of his preferences.

“You kind of question how these people know that I’m looking at this stuff, and who has my history and stuff online,” he said. “It’s kind of scary to think about that.”

Gov. Hochul still needs to sign the algorithm bill that was filed earlier this month, but she and New York Attorney General Letitia James have already supported it.