NY Age Checks: Social Media's New Midnight Rule

New York is implementing new regulations for social media platforms, requiring age verification for certain features. The SAFE for Kids Act, signed into law in June 2024, will officially go into effect on January 25, 2027. Platforms will face significant penalties, with fines up to $5,000 per violation for non-compliance.

To provide access to algorithmic feeds or notifications between midnight and 6 AM, social media companies must accurately verify users' ages. These rules mandate high accuracy thresholds for age detection and require platforms to offer at least one alternative to government-issued IDs. Information collected for age verification must be promptly deleted or de-identified.

The law also details processes for parental consent for users under 18. Minors can request parental permission for age-gated features, with parents being notified. Platforms cannot block minors from non-age-gated content or specific searches solely due to lack of parental consent for restricted features. Both parents and children can withdraw consent, and platforms are not required to share detailed information about a child's activity to obtain consent.