Parents in Westchester are weighing in on new state proposals to protect kids online.

Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced new laws for social media and online gaming platforms including default privacy settings for children, expanded age verification, and disabling AI chatbot features.

The proposal also calls for a statewide expansion of Teen Mental Health First Aid training, so young people can identify if their friends need help.

“We want our children to grow up as kids. Not scrolling, not comparing, or feeling pressure to the addictive social media feeds designed to keep them hooked,” said Kate Chudoba with WNY United Against Drug & Alcohol Abuse.

“We can’t be afraid and fully ban or censor these new technologies. AI is here, but we can be intentional about how we’re using it,” said Lauren Tetenbaum, a psychotherapist and Scarsdale parent.