Martins bill aimed at minors using social media Blakeman holds rally for Penny in NYC Lafazan introduces new vet bill of rights

BY CAMERYN OAKES

Nassau County Legislator Joshua Lafazan (D-Woodbury) introduced a new county bill that would support veterans during a conference at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6394 in Syosset Wednesday.

The 21st-century “Veterans’ Bill of Rights” would entitle veterans to certain rights, including but not limited to the right to dignified housing, gainful employment, protection from discrimination and community support.

Lafazan said this legislation re-affirms the basic rights that veterans are entitled to and that must be upheld.

Lafazan said that about 5,000 veterans are at risk of homelessness in Nassau County. He said that veterans also face challenges in receiving healthcare services and experience high rates of unemployment.

“There is so much work to do,” Lafazan said.

The legislation would also commission a study in order to identify how veterans are served in the county and additional resources that could be implemented, including recommendations for investments such as new technology and healthcare advancements.

That study would then be reported back to the legislature in a public meeting.

Lafazan said the timing of this bill is important as Memorial Day approaches just days after his announcement.

“A day in which we honor the hundreds of thousands of patriots who gave their lives to this nation over the course of our history, it’s an important time to also renew our commitment to taking care of those veterans right here in Nassau,” Lafazan said. “So as people celebrate the weekend, it’s important not only to reflect on those who made the ultimate sacrifice but also to reflect on how we’re serving our veterans right here in our backyard.”

Lafazan, who sits on the Veterans Committee, said serving the county’s veterans has been a top priority for him.

During his tenure in office, Lafazan has introduced legislation including protections for veterans against housing discrimination, to build transitional housing for veterans and assist unemployed veterans in securing county jobs.

The Veteran’s Bill of Rights would potentially add to this list of veteran-serving legislation.

“So this is another installation of action that I think we need to be taking to help our heroes,” Lafazan said.

As the legislation has now been proposed, Lafazan said the next step is drafting the final language for the bill. He said he will also be reaching out to his colleagues, on both sides of the aisle, to seek out co-sponsors.

In the meantime, Lafazan said county residents who support the bill can call their legislator to ask them to sign on as a co-sponsor and help pass the bill.

BY CAMERYN OAKES

State Sen. Jack Martins (R-Old Westbury) is proposing legislation that would require social media companiesto obtain parental permission for minors to create social media accounts.

The purpose of the legislation is to grant parents more options to monitor their child’s social media usage, such as platforms like Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and Twitter, “and shield them from the dark side of social media,” he said in a press release.

“As a father of four daughters, I’m very concerned about the growing trend of social media and the detrimental impact it has on children and minors under the age of 18,” Martins said.

The bill would require parental consent for a minor to use a social media platform from 10:30 p.m. — 6:30 a.m., with the social media company responsible for implementing the requirement. It would also require the social media company to provide parental access to their child’s posts and messages on the applications.

The New York Attorney General’s Office would be able to prosecute social media companies that are not compliant. Companies would potentially face a fine upwards of $25,000 for not obtaining parental consent. Parents would also be able to seek out private lawsuitsagainst social media companies for such violations.

While the senator acknowledged that social media can be beneficial to young people, he said there are studies that show its negative effects as well, including peer pressure, bullying, depression, anxiety and suicide.

“Our children and young adults need to be separated from constant and lengthy visits to social media sites in order to prevent depression and such,” Martins stated. “The main concept of the proposal is to put “children’s safety” first by limiting bullying, hate speech and the spread of online misinformation, which can potentially cause harmful effects on minors.”

The press release referenced a statement made by U.S. Attorney General Vivek Murthy, who cite the negative effects of social media use by minors.

“While social media may offer some benefits… there are ample indicators that social media can also pose a risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents,” Vurthy stated.

He said that 95% of minors aged 13-17 reported using social media and more than a third reported using social media almost constantly.

Martins has introduced the bill which is currently being reviewed bythe Internet And Technology Committee. It has not been voted on yet and it is unknown when it would be.