Governor Hochul Proposes Comprehensive Measures for Child Safety

Jan 6, 2026, 2:23 AM

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Governor Kathy Hochul has unveiled a sweeping set of proposals aimed at protecting children online, restricting the use of harmful AI chatbots, and expanding mental health resources for young people across New York State. This initiative is part of the Governor's first State of the State agenda and seeks to combat the growing youth mental health crisis while strengthening safeguards against online predators and harmful digital tools.

Hochul emphasized the importance of these measures, stating, "As New York's first mom Governor, the well-being and safety of our children has always been one of my top priorities". The proposed legislation aims to create a national standard for online child safety and teen mental health education, ensuring that children have the necessary tools and safeguards to navigate the challenges of today's digital world.

The legislative package includes new requirements for social media and online gaming platforms, such as expanding age verification rules and enhancing default privacy settings for children. Under the proposal, children's accounts would automatically be set to the highest privacy level, limiting who can message them, view their profiles, or tag them in content. Additionally, location tracking would be disabled by default, and children under 13 would require parental approval for new online connections.

In response to the urgent need for online safety, New York Attorney General Letitia James stated, "Online platforms like Roblox are enabling unsafe environments for children, including allowing predators to send explicit messages to children". She expressed support for the proposed measures, which aim to curb unsafe online environments and protect children from exploitation.

Alongside online safety measures, Governor Hochul announced plans to significantly expand Teen Mental Health First Aid training statewide. This initiative would make the training available to every 10th-grade student, ultimately reaching more than 180,000 students each year. The program is designed to help teens identify signs of mental health and substance use challenges among their peers and connect them with appropriate support.

Research indicates that young people often turn first to friends during times of crisis, making peer awareness a critical prevention tool. New York State Office of Mental Health Commissioner Ann Sullivan highlighted the importance of this initiative, stating, "In our discussions with young people about mental health issues, one consistent thread became clear—youth reach out to their peers when they are in distress". The expanded training aims to equip students with the skills necessary to support their friends and classmates effectively.

The proposal also includes expanded Youth Mental Health First Aid training for adults who work with young people in schools and community programs. This comprehensive approach recognizes the vital role that both peers and adults play in supporting youth mental health and well-being.

These proposals build on a series of recent actions aimed at improving youth mental health and digital safety, including banning smartphones in schools, requiring warning labels on social media platforms, and restricting addictive online features for children. New York has also enacted first-in-the-nation safeguards on AI companions and invested over $1 billion in mental health initiatives to increase access to care.

Governor Hochul's initiatives represent a significant step forward in addressing the challenges faced by young people in today's digital landscape. By prioritizing both online safety and mental health education, New York aims to set a powerful national standard that protects children and supports their well-being in an increasingly complex world.

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