Connecticut Attorney General William Tong issued a statement on May 1, 2026, announcing the final passage of bipartisan legislation targeting youth social media addiction and artificial intelligence harms. The legislation imposes new obligations on social media companies regarding minor account settings, parental consent, and reporting, as well as requirements for AI chatbot operators and employers using automated decision tools. The statement also references ongoing enforcement actions against Meta and TikTok for allegedly designing addictive platform features for youth.
Social media companies must implement default privacy, time-of-use, and notification settings for minor accounts, require parental consent to alter defaults or use addictive algorithms, display mental health warning labels to minors, and submit annual reports to the state detailing minor user data. AI chatbot operators must disclose AI interactions to users, implement self-harm detection protocols, and restrict minor access to bots capable of encouraging self-harm or providing mental health services. Employers using automated decision tools must disclose AI use in employment decisions, note AI-related workforce reductions in layoff notifications, and comply with state study and planning requirements for AI employment impacts.
In-house legal teams at social media platforms, AI chatbot operators, and employers utilizing automated decision tools should review customer, vendor, and employment agreements for compliance with Connecticut’s new legislation. Social media companies must update minor account terms, privacy policies, and data processing agreements to include parental consent clauses for altering default settings or deploying addictive algorithms, incorporate required mental health warning labels, and align data collection practices with new annual reporting obligations. AI chatbot operators should revise service agreements to mandate AI interaction disclosures, self-harm detection protocols, and minor access restrictions. Employers using automated employment decision tools must update employee agreements and vendor contracts to include required AI use disclosures, and modify layoff notification clauses to explicitly note AI-related workforce reductions as required by the new law.
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social media companies
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Social MediaOfficial Press Release
https://portal.ct.gov/ag/press-releases/2026-press-releases/statement-on-final-passage-of-legislation-to-combat-youth-social-media-addiction
office of the attorney general ai advisory.pdf?rev=1b393e0f5
https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/ag/press_releases/2026/office-of-the-attorney-general---ai-advisory.pdf?rev=1b393e0f5a2e4eccb19642e4520773bd&hash=0EB1AB8FF586C129315C292974C9A27A
Connecticut Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://portal.ct.gov/AG/Privacy/Privacy-Resources
"Attorney General Tong Statement on Final Passage of Legislation to Combat Youth Social Media Addiction and Artificial Intelligence Harms"
"05/01/2026"
"Connecticut"
"final passage of state legislation"
"social media companies"
"exposing minors to harmful and addictive algorithms and notifications without parental consent"
Connecticut officials warned residents about potential home improvement scams before an approaching nor’easter, including unlicensed contractors, high-pressure sales tactics, and demands for full payment upfront. The release provides consumer guidance on checking contractors and contract requirements; it does not announce an enforcement action or penalty against a named entity.
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$2.3M
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