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Legislation has been proposed in New York to limit how social media companies can use algorithms and user data to profit off of children. Not surprisingly, it's facing an uphill battle. Between Google, TikTok, and Meta, a total of $823,235 has been spent lobbying against the legislation.
The two laws in question target addictive algorithms and the collection of data used by advertisers to sell products to children. Privacy attorney Travis Crabtree told KTRH, "It's very profitable for advertisers to target these people, and for social media companies to serve those ads to the target audience."
Crabtree says that the algorithms in question are also highly addictive, leading to hours of online binging. He said, "That's why TikTok is better than all the other short video platforms. Their algorithm keeps people watching."
It's not certain how all this will play out, and these social media companies are likely to file a lawsuit against any legislation that harms their business model. In the meantime, concerned parents can utilize parental controls on these platforms to monitor and even limit their children's online access.