The mayor of New York, Eric Adams, announced the official recognition of social networks as a threat to public health, making the city the first in the United States to draw attention to the negative impact of these platforms on the mental health of young people.
In his State of the City report, Mayor Adams said Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan had classified social media sites like TikTok and Instagram as "toxic to the environment." He expressed the need to solve the mental health crisis, especially the addiction to social networks among young people.
The city authorities have emphasized the importance of taking measures to limit the risks of social media use, although specific strategies have not yet been determined. Previously, in June 2023, the convention discussed the possible consequences of the use of social networks among young people, and recommendations were proposed. Experts expressed ideas on strengthening data transparency and improving content moderation.
A possible adoption of an age design law similar to California's could serve as an example for New York. This law has already forced TikTok and Instagram to implement restrictions under its provisions.
Further restrictions on the activities of technology companies in the city are expected to strain relations with business leaders and officials. Mayor Adams' position is controversial in the community, given that his administration actively supports the use of technology in various areas, such as the implementation of artificial intelligence in urban infrastructure.
In the future, New York may consider regulations similar to California's that would prohibit the collection of information from minor users. These laws allow the attorney general to impose civil penalties on tech companies for violating the requirements. Although these laws have not yet come into effect, they are already affecting the actions of companies, such as stopping direct messages between children and adults without verifying their relationship.
It is also worth noting that in the latest beta version of the WhatsApp messenger, the interface for sharing posts from channels in "Status" was updated. In addition, the European Union requires Meta Platforms to provide detailed information on measures taken to combat child sexual harassment on Instagram.
