“Social media companies must determine that a given user is an adult before providing them with algorithmic feeds.”
New York just mandated age verification for every social media user in the state, not just the kids. You cannot confirm someone is over 18 without checking everyone. The rules say the verification data must be deleted immediately after use, which is a promise with a $5,000-per-violation backstop and no way for anyone outside the company to audit it. Enforcement starts January 25, 2027. The stated goal is protecting minors from algorithmic feeds. The actual output is a database checkpoint at the front door of the internet.