REMARKS
Althea Stevens on Regulating Social Media Use Among Youth
0:37:46
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73 sec
Council Member Althea Stevens introduces legislation to regulate social media use among youth and address mental health concerns.
- Two pieces of legislation are introduced; one requires parental or guardian consent for social media access, and the other mandates a city report on social media's impact on youth mental health.
- Data shows 77% of NYC high schoolers spend 3+ hours per day on screens, not including school work.
- Stevens emphasizes the decline in youth mental health and the need for proactive measures to ensure safer online environments.
- Legislation aims to address disparities in mental health outcomes especially among black and brown communities.
- Stevens urges support for bills intro 442 and 443.
Althea Stevens
0:37:46
Good afternoon.
0:37:49
I'm proud to introduce two pieces of legislation alongside the hook caucus members, council member Nancy Tasha Williams, and council member Kevin O'Reilly.
0:37:56
The the first piece of legislation would limit social media access for young people unless we had by a parent or guardian.
0:38:02
The second bill would require the city to conduct the report on the impact of social media on the mental health of young people.
0:38:08
Data from 2021 indicates that 77% of our city high schoolers spend 3 or more hours per day in front of a screen on average school day.
0:38:18
Not including time spent on schoolwork.
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The social media has become an integral part of our daily lives.
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Youth mental health in New York City has been declining for over a decade and cannot be ignored.
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Are youth or being exposed to harmful and toxic content daily?
0:38:34
And we must be proactive in promoting healthier online habits and ensuring that young people, citywide, have the tools and support to navigate the digital landscape and safety.
0:38:43
This is a proactive step to address the youth mental health crisis as we know that there are disparities between black and brown communities and the disproportionate impact of the harmful effects.
0:38:54
And I urge colleagues to sign on to intro442 and 443.
0:38:58
Thank you.
