Previously, the U.S. Surgeon General called for adding warning labels to social media, and now many states have supported this idea. A coalition of 42 state attorneys general and the U.S. Congress want to pass regulations that would require warning labels on social media platforms. The attorneys general of these states wrote in a letter on Monday that the warning labels would reveal the “inherent dangers” of social platforms to children. Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General, first proposed these social media warning labels in June as part of a plan to prevent the “mental health crisis.”
Attorneys general from most states, including New York, California, Florida, Oregon, Michigan, and others, support this action, saying it will help “protect future generations of Americans.” In total, the letter supporting warning labels on the dangers of social media was signed by 39 state representatives, as well as the attorneys general of American Samoa, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The letter references research that links social media use to anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts in young people. There are also studies indicating that social platforms disrupt children’s sleep with “irresistible algorithmic recommendations, infinite scrolling, and a constant stream of notifications.” The warning labels proposed by the Surgeon General are similar to those used for alcohol and tobacco products.
The U.S. Attorneys General say:
“The Surgeon General’s warning about social media platforms, while not sufficient to fully address the problem, will be an important step toward reducing the risk of harm to young people. We urge Congress to consider such actions and continue to seek innovative solutions to protect our children from emerging technologies.”
U.S. Actions to Protect the Mental Health of Children and Adolescents Against Social Media
It is worth noting that over the past year, lawmakers across the United States have intensified efforts to protect children online by passing the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) in the Senate.
Dozens of states also sued Meta last year, claiming that Facebook and Instagram offered features that exploited and deceived young people. Other states, including Utah, have filed lawsuits against TikTok, alleging that the “addictive nature” of the platform has harmed children.
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