ALBANY, N.Y. (NCC NEWS) – New York Gov. Kathy Hochul met with members of the Mental Health Association in New York State (MHANYS) to discuss her plans to address youth mental health.
Hochul’s nation-leading legislation has paved the way to protect teenagers after social media use has skyrocketed. Her plan invests more than $1 billion for those who are suffering the most. She said she wants to work with the social media companies.
“We’re not anti-business, we’re anti-harming-our-children,” said Hochul. “And they should see that and work with us.”
Hochul’s legislation plans to attack social media companies in two ways: prevent addictive exploitation of teenagers and limit online data being collected from minors.
Advocates have noted the warning signs teens have displayed.
“We see that these young people are suffering,” said MHANYS CEO Glenn Liebman. “We see the scourge of social media and what social media means and the impact of social media.”
Yale Medicine has reported kids between the ages of 12-15 that spend more than three hours per day on social media are twice as likely to have mental health issues.
Parents can step in to protect their kids in multiple ways including limiting screen time, taking devices out of the bedroom at night and letting them be honest about the experiences they deal with on the web.
While Hochul’s bill is still working its way through the legislature, she made herself very clear.
“If we can’t stand up and help our children get out of a crisis, then we have failed them,” said Hochul.
More information about the initiative can be found at this website.
