On March 12, 2024, a new New York law went into effect that effectively prohibits employers from accessing employees’ or job applicants’ personal social media accounts.

Under the new legislation, “personal accounts” are broadly defined to mean “an account or profile on an electronic medium where users may create, share, and view user-generated content, including uploading or downloading videos or still photographs, blogs, video blogs, podcasts, instant messages, or internet website profiles used exclusively for personal purposes.”