A coalition of 42 state and territory attorneys general is calling on Congress to pass regulation requiring warning labels on social media platforms. In a letter on Monday, the attorneys general wrote that the warning labels would draw attention to the “inherent dangers” social platforms pose to children.
First proposed by the US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy labels the warning in June as part of a plan to prevent the “mental health crisis” affecting young people. Attorneys general from a large majority of states, including New York, California, Florida, Oregon, Michigan, and others, are writing in support of the measure, saying the measure will help “protect future generations of Americans.” All told, the letter was signed by 39 state AGs as well as the attorneys general of American Samoa, the District of Columbia, and the US Virgin Islands.
The letter cites research linking social media use to anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation in young people, along with studies suggesting that social platforms disrupt children’s sleep using “no irresistible algorithmic recommendations, endless scrolling, and a constant stream of notifications” to keep them “relentlessly engaged on the platform.” The labels proposed by the surgeon general would be similar to those already used for alcohol and tobacco products.
But some of the underlying research on the effects of social media is disputed, and these labels will mark one of the rare times that platforms for speech and communication are required to post warnings on their users — except for state-level rules. soliciting adult sites add unproven health warnings about pornography.
“A surgeon general’s warning on social media platforms, while not sufficient to address the full scope of the problem, would be a consequential step toward mitigating the risk of harm to youth,” the attorneys general said. “We encourage Congress to consider such measures and continue to find innovative solutions to protect our children in the face of emerging technologies.”
