New York Has a Paid-Information Problem — And We’re Finally Addressing It Right now, a massive amount of what New Yorkers see, hear, and believe is being shaped by paid influence masquerading as organic content. Not journalism. Not opinion. Paid persuasion without disclosure. Social media has become a marketplace where outrage, misinformation, and sexualized content are rewarded by algorithms and cash—while parents, kids, and working people are left to sort out what’s real on their own. That’s not free speech. That’s undisclosed commercial influence. And New York has every right—and responsibility—to deal with it. The Problem • Over one-third of Americans now get news directly from social media platforms. • A majority of younger users say they receive “news” from influencers, not reporters. • Paid content is routinely not disclosed, even when money or incentives are clearly involved. • Children are being exposed to algorithm-driven content that rewards dysfunction, not discipline. • Fake outrage, rage-bait, manipulated clips, and click-farm content are financially incentivized. We already regulate: • Advertising • Campaign finance • Consumer fraud • Gambling, alcohol, and tobacco marketing But somehow, paid digital influence gets a free pass. That ends now. The Policy: NYS Digital Transparency & Youth Protection Act This policy does not censor speech. It does not ban opinions. It does not target ideology. It does one simple thing: If you are paid to influence New Yorkers, the public has a right to know. Key components include: • Mandatory Paid-Influence Disclosure Clear, unavoidable labels when money, compensation, or incentives are involved. • Ban on “Stealth Sponsored News” If content is paid for, it cannot be presented as independent reporting. • Public Transparency Portal A searchable archive of major paid influence campaigns targeting NY residents. • Enforcement Against Deceptive Engagement Fake reviews, bot amplification, hidden sponsorships, and fraudulent marketing treated as consumer deception. • Youth Protections Limits on algorithmic amplification and targeted advertising on state-managed school networks and devices. • Deepfake & Synthetic Media Safeguards Penalties for materially deceptive synthetic content used to mislead or manipulate. • Digital Literacy Tools Teach people—especially kids—how to spot manipulation, rage-bait, and paid deception. Why This Matters You can say whatever you want in New York. You can criticize me, support me, hate me, or ignore me. But if you’re being paid to push something, that’s no longer just speech—it’s commerce. And commerce has rules. This policy restores trust, transparency, and personal responsibility to the digital public square—without turning the government into a speech referee. This Is About the Future A society where: • Kids think work is optional • Truth is secondary to clicks • Outrage is profitable • Deception is rewarded …is not sustainable. New York can lead the country by proving you don’t need censorship to restore order—just honesty, disclosure, and enforcement of existing principles in a modern world. Read the full policy here: 👉 https://jsa2026.com/572-2/ “I’m not a good candidate. I’m the right one.” — Jason S. Arnold, for Governor of New York