Mamdani slammed for using kids in campaign videos after gloating about social media-free childhood

Zohran Mamdani is taking heat for using school kids in his online campaign ads even after noting how fortunate he was to enjoy a childhood free of social media The -year-old New York City mayoral candidate who has built his brand on viral content was criticized by Instagram followers after he featured interviews with two kids promoting his bid for City Hall The criticism also came as New York City launched a statewide classroom cellphone ban aimed at protecting novice mental soundness and ahead of the mayoral ballot On Thursday Mamdani appeared outside I S in Queens praising the new cellphone ban while welcoming families back for the first day of the school year On Instagram he also shared a post and contrasted his own childhood with in current times s digital reality writing EX-MAYOR DE BLASIO TOUTS SOCIALIST MAMDANI AS NEW YORK CITY'S ANSWER TO TRUMP POLICIES I consider myself fortunate when I was a candidate it was before social media had cannibalized the way that kids interact with one another he wrote The post was paired with a back-to-school message about hope and new beginnings But just days later Mamdani s campaign accounts featured the two young kids speaking directly to Mamdani and Sen Elizabeth Warren D-Mass MAMDANI APPEALS TO NON-DEMOCRATS WITH GENERAL POLL PUSH VOWS GOVERNING BODY CAN MEET VOTERS' 'MATERIAL NEEDS'In one clip a girl confidently endorsed him in another a boy offered sponsorship while Warren sat nearby How old is she So articulate but she s so tiny one follower reported about the little girl Critics wondered why Mamdani was using children in his social media ads even as he decried the effects of cellphones and social media on children Why are you using kids to promote your political agenda complained another follower commenting on the post featuring the boy's interview One critic wrote He can express his personal opinion and promote whomever he wants using the kids to do it is unacceptable Mamdani's posts featuring the two children also came days before New York Governor Kathy Hochul defended the new cellphone restrictions arguing they will reduce distractions improve mental fitness and even protect children during emergencies by preventing location-sharing Hochul discussed the state s ban on cellphone use in society schools on Fox News Sunday The new law prohibits smartphones and smartwatches during school hours except for health or educational use Mamdani who unseated a longtime incumbent in the Democratic primary is campaigning on sweeping progressive promises from a minimum wage to a rent freeze Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani for comment