As technology progresses faster than ever with artificial intelligence and social media taking over many aspects of our lives, there is an active effort to revert this technology dependence in the younger generation. In New York State, phones and other internet accessible devices have been completely banned in schools, and many other states are implementing this same policy.

The question remains, why are we trying to push back so aggressively while we’re moving forward so fast? 

AI is already having a big impact. From AI generated advertisements, deceiving videos online, or chat agents writing emails and planning company strategy, AI platforms are incredibly popular, and they impact our daily lives whether we know it or not.

In response to the development of AI, New York State has passed the Responsible AI Safety and Education Act—the RAISE Act—which requires all AI developers to have a safety plan preventing widespread harm and destruction. This prevents AI from aiding in automated crime, bioweapons, and other risks to the public. Artificial intelligence is evolving faster than any other form of technology, and many now agree that in the wrong hands, AI could pose serious risks to humanity. 

As for phone usage, screen time in all age brackets is at an all time high. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, between July 2021 and December 2023, 50.4% of 12-17 year olds had four or more hours of daily screen time. 

Social media algorithms exploit our brain’s natural reward system. By analyzing user data, we’re provided with personalized feeds and engaging content to keep us hooked on scrolling. Certain online interactions and videos can trigger a dopamine release in our brains, and social media companies know this. They develop their sites to keep us addicted. 

Since adolescents are particularly susceptible to this addiction because of their developing brains and struggles with impulse control, New York State passed a bill last year that prohibited social media platforms from providing addicted feeds to minors. Addictive, personalized feeds have been tied to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and self-harm in children. 

In June 2024, the New York State Assembly passed the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act which would require parental consent for social media platforms to provide addictive feeds and notifications between 12:00 AM and 6:00 AM to kids younger than 18.

In August 2024, the Office of the Attorney General issued an advanced notice on the proposed rulemaking, and they allowed the public a 60-day period to submit comments which could inform the drafted rules.

Recently on September 15, 2025, the proposed rules were released. The rules state that a user’s age must be verified to prove they’re over 18 before they can access algorithmic feeds and nighttime notifications. If the user is under 18, they must request parental consent for algorithmic feeds and/or nighttime notifications. These rules would apply to companies that display content generated by users and have users who spend at least 20% of their time on the platform’s addictive feed (Instagram, Tiktok, etc.). 

The full proposed rules can be found here. The rules are not yet in effect.

New York is the first state in the nation to pass a bill directly targeting the addictive nature of social media algorithms. This year, New York State has also implemented a phone ban across all public schools, charter schools, and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) across the state, including all K-12 schools, for the entire school day.

“New York was the first state to target addictive social media feeds — and now we’re the largest state to restrict smartphones in schools throughout the entire school day,” Governor Hochul said on May 6, 2025, at an event in Albany, NY to announce the bell-to-bell restrictions on smartphones. “I know our young people succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling — and that’s why New York continues to lead the nation on protecting our kids in the digital age.”

Screen addiction is increasingly prevalent among adolescents, and New York State is currently fighting the battle against rapidly growing technology addiction. In the coming months, we’ll be able to see if the new policies being implemented make a real difference among the younger generation. Will we succumb to technological dependency? Or will our coming NYS laws prevent us from complete addiction?

Sources:

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2023/S7694/amendment/A

https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/what-they-are-saying-governor-hochul-signs-nation-leading-legislation-restrict-addictive

https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/distraction-free-schools-governor-hochul-announces-new-york-become-largest-state-nation

https://www.nysenate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2024/first-nation-legislation-limiting-social-media-algorithmic-reach

https://time.com/7295195/ai-chatgpt-google-learning-school/

https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2025/attorney-general-james-releases-proposed-rules-safe-kids-act-restrict-addictive