Connecticut Enacts Protections to Shield Minors from Online Risks

A new online privacy and data protection law will take effect on Oct. 1, safeguarding the privacy of Connecticut minors and prohibiting the exploitation of their personal data in harmful ways.

Passage of the new law was led by state Sen. James Maroney, a Milford Democrat who co-chairs the legislature’s General Law Committee.

“Protecting children’s data privacy online is essential because it safeguards their innocence, ensures their safety, and preserves their right to grow and learn without being exploited or manipulated,” Maroney said. “In an increasingly digital world, their personal information should be secure for their future.”

The new law will require sites that offer online service to minors to use reasonable care to avoid a “heightened risk” of harm to young people. Such risks include unfair or deceptive treatment; financial, physical or reputational injury; and invasion of privacy. It will also ban targeted advertisements and the sale of data generated by users under the age of 18 without opt-in consent.

The new online privacy law will also prohibit features designed to significantly increase a minor’s use of the online service, i.e., endless scrolling habits, prohibit collection of geo location data without opt-in consent, and ban unsolicited direct messaging from an adult to an unknown minor.

The law follows, and is modeled in part on, the Age-Appropriate Design Code adopted in the United Kingdom. The UK law helped to spur reforms by leading tech companies. For instance, Google made SafeSearch the default for minors, YouTube turned off Autoplay and set bedtime reminders for young users, and TikTok disabled messaging between minors and unknown adults.

Researchers have found the wellbeing of America’s youth in an alarming state. According to a 2024 report by the CDC, 53% of high school girls in 2023 reported feeling “persistently sad or hopeless” over the previous year, up from 36% in 2011. Meanwhile, 27 percent of high school girls seriously considered attempting suicide in 2021, up from 19% in 2011.

Social media use by teens took off in that time frame, in a trend that began before the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies suggest there is a strong negative correlation between mental health and social media use.

As youth mental health metrics have declined, tech companies have employed the personal data of minors to target them with advertisements, to lure them into scrolling longer, or encourage them to continue watching videos.

From 2019 to 2021, youth increased their screen time 17%, which encompassed an average of 5 hours and 33 minutes daily for those 8 to 12 years old, and 8 hours and 39 minutes for those 13 to 18 years old.

Maroney introduced the bill in 2023, when it passed unanimously in the House and the Senate. Similar to the 2022 Data Protection Act, the bill only applies to certain companies of a significant size or otherwise control a significant amount of personal data.

Posted By Michelle Rappaport

When Will Peak Fall Foliage Hit Connecticut?

It’s an annual tradition, one that brings tourism to our region and has even inspired humorous episodes of television programs like “Family Guy” – every year, Connecticut is filled with beautiful natural sights as trees’ leaves turn color and change.

It can be hard to know exactly when the leaves will turn before they fall, but the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection has changed that this year. DEEP created a Fall Foliage Report, utilizing its data as well as this year’s weather trends to determine when fall foliage should reach peak colors and beauty.

This tool will provide residents with the best information about when their communities can expect bursts of color; it’s also a valuable tool to help draw tourism to the state, supporting the local economy.
As of the end of September, the Fall Foliage Report indicates that most of Connecticut was not yet seeing strong foliage activity, but the northeast and northwest corners of the state, primarily Litchfield and Windham counties, were starting to see activity. DEEP expects there to be a band-like effect moving south through the state, similar to a weather system, that will lead to increases in color.

In the beginning of October, leaves should be turning to vivid colors in north-central Connecticut, with the band appearing like a wave, its lower limits including Waterbury and Hartford, with peak activity in the northern corners of the state.

Peak conditions should be visible everywhere north of Hartford and Waterbury by the middle of October, with the northern corners passing peak activity and seeing leaves falling. A relatively early leaf season should end everywhere but the southern coast by Halloween, with the state passing peak activity and heading toward winter conditions by Veterans’ Day.

DEEP’s website also includes several overlays including driving routes that will show the best sights, including loops that run from Storrs to Woodstock and back, Hartford into the northwest corner of the state, and loops starting in New Haven and Middletown. The map also displays several areas including the eastern border and north of I-84 that are known for having scenic, beautiful views.

Embracing fall foliage is part of DEEP’s latest efforts to promote tourism and travel in Connecticut, following reports last year by CT By The Numbers highlighting CTParks.com, a website created to draw more attention to the parks that are drawing twice as many visitors annually as they did prior to the pandemic in 2020 and 2021.

It also points to the importance of Connecticut’s forests for the state economy. According to the North East State Foresters Association, as of 2014, forest recreation in Connecticut drives hundreds of millions of dollars in economic value; fall foliage viewing was the biggest, representing just over $300 million of $1.2 billion overall.

Posted By Joe O’Leary

Three Connecticut Schools Receive National Honor

Three Connecticut schools made this year’s National Blue Ribbon Schools list from the U.S. Department of Education, which honors schools that have excelled in academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps.

Among the institutions to receive this year’s Blue Ribbon awards were Meriden’s Israel Putnam Elementary School, Madison’s Daniel Hand High School, and Shelton’s Sunnyside Elementary School.

In a press release announcing the results, Gov. Ned Lamont said the recognition reinforced why Connecticut public schools were considered among the best in the nation.

“Every child deserves access to a quality education that prepares them for achievement,” Lamont said. “There’s no doubt that we must continue working to close persistent achievement gaps, but I firmly believe that the strong work of so many of our educators is having an impact. I congratulate these three public schools in Madison, Meriden, and Shelton on earning this national distinction and I wish them continued success.”

All three schools were nominated for the award by the State Department of Education, which based its choices off 2022-2023 data from the Next Generation Accountability System.

Israel Putnam Elementary’s accomplishments included progress in closing achievement gaps. The school serves 482 students, of which about 80% are eligible for free or reduced price meals while 19% are multi-language learners. Israel Putnam students ranked in the top 10% of growth in mathematics, both for high needs students and for all students, and achieved about 88% of their growth targets in 2022-2023.

State Sen. Jan Hochadel, D-Meriden, praised the school’s staff and student population for their efforts.

“As a former teacher, I’m overjoyed to see the students, educators, and support staff of Israel Putnam Elementary recognized for their hard work and dedication,” Hochadel said. “This honor puts a Meriden school among a select group across the nation and everyone in our city should be proud of what these students and the school community has accomplished.”

Meanwhile, Daniel Hand High School made the list due to its exemplary high performance. The school exceeded its performance accountability targets in every year since the 2014-2015 academic year. Last year, its students achieved an 88.4%, earning the “School of Distinction” status for the second consecutive year, according to the governor’s office.

Sunnyside Elementary School also has a history of distinction. During the 2022-2023 school year, Sunnyside students’ academic growth was among the top 10% of schools in math and reading for both high need students and the overall student population, the governor’s office said.

State Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker congratulated all three schools for their achievements.

“These schools exemplify Connecticut’s dedication to fostering educational environments where all students can thrive and reach their full potential, preparing them for academic success as well as life and work beyond school,” she said. “Congratulations to the students, educators, and school leaders on this prestigious honor and for their continued pursuit of excellence.”

Posted By Hugh McQuaid

Biden Declaration Makes Grants, Loans Available to Connecticut Flood Victims

Ensuring that federal funding will be made available to help with the state’s recovery from severe flooding in August, President Joe Biden on Friday approved a major disaster declaration in Connecticut.

The declaration will make assistance like grants and low-cost loans available to impacted residents in Fairfield, Litchfield, and New Haven Counties, where heavy rainfall caused flooding and landslides during a severe storm on Aug. 18 and Aug. 19.

In a press release, Gov. Ned Lamont said the declaration would benefit residents affected by the storm.

“This historic weather event caused significant damage to homes and businesses in western Connecticut, and the approval of this major disaster declaration means that individuals will be able to access federal funding to support their recovery efforts, particularly when it comes to the rebuilding of uninsured infrastructure,” Lamont said.

Residents whose homes or businesses were damaged or lost during the weather event can apply for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, or by calling 800-621-3362, or using the FEMA app.

The disaster declaration follows roughly $3 million in emergency funding provided by the Biden-Harris administration earlier this month to assist Connecticut with road repair work in the aftermath of the historic flooding, which washed out roads and bridges throughout the impacted region.

The unusually heavy rainfall had severe consequences when it struck the state last month. Three residents were killed in the resulting flooding. Meanwhile, the water destroyed 19 homes and caused major damage to 170 more. At least 77 businesses sustained major damage, according to the governor’s office.

As of Friday, the state Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security was collaborating with federal agencies to identify locations to open disaster and business recovery centers in order to provide in-person support for residents looking to apply for assistance.

Posted By Hugh McQuaid