The Brian Lehrer Show Protecting Kids' Online Safety
Jan 9, 2026
Kris Perry, Executive Director of Children and Screens, discusses the urgent need for online safety measures for children. She highlights New York Governor Hochul's push for legislation to block stranger contact and limit data collection. Kris explains how platforms currently verify children's ages and the implications of algorithms on youth privacy. She warns about the risks of heavy online use, including mental health issues and privacy concerns linked to device cameras. With optimism about recent policy trends, Kris encourages youth-led initiatives for healthier tech engagement.
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Platforms Infer Age Beyond Birthdate
- Platforms predict or infer children's ages using behavior, voice, and facial cues beyond self-reported age.
- Reducing data collection limits personalization and the algorithm's ability to keep kids engaged.
Force Platforms To Collect Less Data
- Limit apps' data collection to reduce personalized feeds and engagement-maximizing features.
- Use policies that force platforms to collect less data so they can't market and personalize to children.
Child Data Law Attacks The Algorithm
- New York's Child Data Protection Act targets how data fuels targeting and engagement.
- Cutting data collection weakens algorithms that tailor feeds and ads to children.