After Arnold and Maria, Daughter Katherine Joins Battle Against Smartphones as New York’s Proposes New Law

Social media has become a major part of our daily lives, often causing unseen harm, especially to children. The former governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger frequently addressed these dangers in his newsletter. His ex-wife, Maria Shriver, a social activist and award-winning journalist, also highlighted the issue, recently. Now, their daughter Katherine Schwarzenegger has joined the bandwagon, supporting the “SAFE” initiative.

On May 27th, New York Governor Kathy Hochul wrote an op-ed in the New York Post, emphasizing the urgency of passing new laws to protect children from the negative impacts of social media. Hochul is advocating for two critical pieces of legislation. The first, the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act, aims to limit social media features that are designed to be addictive and harmful to young users. The second, the New York Child Data Protection Act seeks to prevent online platforms from collecting, using, or selling the personal data of minors without consent. Katherine, on the other hand, wants something similar in her home state.

Katherine Schwarzenegger’s hope to see the changes in California as well

In the article, Governor Hochul wrote, “We stopped marketing tobacco to kids. We raised the drinking age. And today, we’re fighting to protect kids from the defining problem of our time.” In support of Governor Hochul, the mother of two, Katherine Schwarzenegger, shared a post by Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt on Instagram. Mentioning the current California governor, she wrote, “@gavinnewsom let’s get California next in line for this awesomeness!” 

Jonathan Haidt wrote in his post, “I strongly support my Governor’s efforts to curb some of the most damaging features of social media for teens. I hope Albany will pass these two bills.” In addition, according to ABC News, several other states in the U.S. are taking steps to limit children’s use of social media. In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis, a member of the Republican party, recently approved a law that prohibits kids under 14 from having social media accounts. For 14- and 15-year-olds, parental permission is now mandatory.

Meanwhile, Utah updated its rules in March. They now mandate that social media platforms verify users’ ages, but they’ve removed the need for parental consent for teenagers to create accounts.

As such steps continue to be taken in the US, earlier, the bodybuilding legend’s former wife had shared a glimpse of a tech-free event in Amsterdam.

Maria Shriver urges the promotion of a tech-free environment

Maria Shriver shared a video on her Instagram, from an event in Amsterdam conducted by the Offline Club, where people ditched their phones to enjoy activities like reading and painting. Shriver praised the gathering’s focus on human connection, highlighting The Offline Club’s efforts to promote tech-free environments.

Amsterdam hosts many such activities, allowing people to socialize without phones. “I saw this video from @theoffline_club shared by my friend @jessseinfeld and was blown away! 250 people, all gathered together, without their phones, in a 400-year-old church in Amsterdam — WOW!” Shriver had written in her post. Shriver emphasized the joy and collaboration that occurs when we disconnect from screens and encouraged her followers to prioritize meaningful connections and make a positive impact. The video’s optimism transported her to a time before smartphones dominated our lives.

In a digital age where social media permeates every aspect of one’s life, Arnold Schwarzenegger and his family are advocating for laws to protect children. From California to New York, efforts are underway to mitigate the harmful effects of excessive screen time and promote meaningful human connections. Do you think these steps will take things in the right direction? Let us know in the comments.