New York – Hochul Pitches Tougher Age Checks And Privacy Defaults To Keep Kids Safer On Games And Social Media  

Albany, N.Y. — New York families could see new guardrails on social media and online gaming under a legislative package pitched by Gov. Kathy Hochul that would tighten age checks, lock in stronger privacy settings for minors, and limit certain AI chatbot features for kids.

The governor’s office said the proposal was discussed Thursday during a roundtable with parents affiliated with Common Sense Media, focusing on risks such as predatory contact, scams, and interactions with AI-driven chat tools. 

Under the plan, platforms, including online gaming services — would face expanded age verification requirements. Accounts for minors would default to the highest privacy settings, including limits that prevent non-connections from messaging children, viewing profiles, or tagging them in content. Location sharing would be turned off by default, and children under 13 would need parental approval for new connections, according to the administration. 

The proposal also calls for disabling certain AI chatbot features for kids on social media platforms and giving parents more control over money spent online. Parents would be able to set limits on children’s financial transactions and view transaction histories — a change aimed at common in-app purchase and fraud concerns. 

For parents now, online-safety advocates recommend turning off location sharing, restricting direct messages to “friends only,” and reviewing privacy and spending settings together before kids join a new game or app.

The package is part of Hochul’s 2026 State of the State agenda and builds on recent New York actions targeting addictive feeds and children’s data privacy. Lawmakers are expected to take up the measures during the current legislative session.