Gov. Kathy Hochul has introduced new legislation to help protect kids when they’re online.
She wants to disable AI chatbot features, allow parents to set limits on children’s financial transactions and expand age verification requirements, all with the aim of protecting kids from predators, scammers and unregulated artificial intelligence.
She’s also proposed a a first-of-its-kind, statewide expansion of Teen Mental Health First Aid training, which is a peer-to-peer designed program that provides young people with the tools to respond to signs of mental health and substance abuse among their friends.
Capital Tonight discussed these proposals with Jon R. Cohen, CEO of Talkspace, and the former chief policy advisor to former New York Gov. David Paterson. Talkspace is the largest teen mental health program in the country and has enabled all New York City students between the ages of 13 to 17 to use its services for free.
He shared advice for parents of teenagers who are searching the web for mental health assistance.
