Can a law make social media less 'addictive'? Politicians are about to find out

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed two new state laws on social media.

The Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation for Kids Act requires social media platforms to seek parental consent before children under 18 use apps with "addictive feeds" The New York Child Data Protection Act limits the information app providers collect about their users.

The laws are part of growing concerns over the effects of social media on the mental health of young people.

Some experts in online safety have welcomed the new laws in New York .

They say they are better than some other state-level attempts to regulate social media.

Netchoice, an industry body representing many of the major tech companies, described the legislation as "unconstitutional" and heavy handed.

The response from social media platforms themselves has been mixed.

Many states are taking different approaches to regulating children's use of social media.

Social media networks often transcend not just state boundaries but also international borders.

Many key policy makers are sympathetic to the difficulty of implementing differing local restrictions.