New York Parents and Families To Call on Governor and State Lawmakers to Add New Online Protections for Kids

Large group of advocates to press officials to include protections for kids from AI companions, gaming platforms, and other social media risks in the state budget

ALBANY, NY (03/09/2026) (readMedia)-- On Tuesday, March 10, concerned New York parents, educators, advocates, and lawmakers will hold a press conference urging the governor and state legislators to support legislation in the state budget to further build on New York's leading record in protecting children from online harms.

Lawmakers, parents and other advocates from leading children and family organizations, and mental health professionals in New York will make the case that New York must act now to further protect young people from the growing dangers they face online from AI companions, gaming sites with chat features, and other risks from social media.

Among the bills they are promoting, they will highlight two in particular. One, by Sen. Gounardes, The Stop Online Predators Act (SOPA) (S4609/A6549), would limit how strangers can interact with minors on gaming platforms with private chat functions, like Roblox and Discord, restrict direct messaging, profile visibility, and financial transactions between strangers and minors. Governor Hochul's executive budget proposals included some of these provisions already. The other bill, led by Sen. Gonzalez, Protecting Kids from Unsafe AI (S9051/A10379, would prohibit unsafe AI chatbots for minors, including products that promote self-harm, suicide, eating disorders, sexually explicit conduct, or that simulate companionship by personifying chatbots as 'real.'

WHO:

Senator Kristen Gonzalez

Senator Andrew Gounardes

Assemblywoman Nily Rozic

Assemblyman Alex Bores

Assemblymember Phil Steck

Common Sense Media

Parents Rise

Mothers Against Media Addiction (MAMA)

NAMI New York

New York Mental Health Practitioners
WHAT:

A press conference calling for the inclusion of the Stop Online Predators Act (SOPA) and the Protecting Kids from Unsafe AI Act in the New York State budget.
WHEN: Tuesday March 10, 2026 at 11:00AM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
WHERE: Capitol Building -- Million Dollar Staircase, 3rd floor
Albany , New York Million Dollar Staircase, 3rd floor
NOTES:

About Common Sense Media

Common Sense Media is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the research-backed information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the age of apps, algorithms, and AI. We rate, educate, and advocate for policies to protect and prepare kids online. Our ratings, research, and resources reach more than 150 million users globally, over 1.4 million educators, and more than 100,000 schools worldwide every year. Learn more at commonsense.org.