NY Finalizes Rules for SAFE for Kids Act on 'Addictive Feeds'

The New York Attorney General has finalized regulations for the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act, starting the clock for compliance ahead of a January 25, 2027, effective date. The law targets "addictive online platforms," defined by user engagement with algorithmically curated feeds, that meet certain size thresholds, such as having at least five million monthly active users.

Covered platforms will be prohibited from providing these "addictive feeds" to minors without verifiable parental consent or after verifying the user is an adult. The new rules mandate specific, "technically workable" methods for age verification, which must be certified by an approved third party. If a government ID check is offered, at least one alternative method must also be available. The rules also detail processes for obtaining parental consent and impose data minimization and security obligations on any information collected for these purposes.

The Attorney General can begin enforcement actions for non-compliance on July 24, 2027, with potential civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation. This development signals that online platforms must now actively prepare for compliance in New York, which follows a growing trend of states enacting child-focused digital safety legislation.