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\n Educators say a new state law requiring social media warning labels for young users will support children\u2019s safety and wellbeing.\u00a0
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Research studies have repeatedly called attention to the fact that social media is dangerous for kids, but now social media companies themselves will be forced to warn people of the dangers of using their platforms. <\/p>\n
Gov. Kathy Hochul recently signed legislation that requires social media platforms to display warning labels explaining the dangerous impact certain features have on young users\u2019 mental health, like warnings found on tobacco, alcohol, and certain foods. <\/p>\n
\u201cKeeping New Yorkers safe has been my top priority since taking office, and that includes protecting our kids from the potential harms of social media features that encourage excessive use,\u201d said Hochul. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe governor is leading the nation in protecting kids online, including blocking direct messages from would-be predators, disabling AI chatbots that target minors, and strengthening access to youth mental healthcare,\u201d said NYSUT President Melinda Person. \u201cThese are smart, modern protections that recognize the realities children face today and put their safety and well-being first.\u201d <\/p>\n
The labels are required for all platforms that use addictive feeds, autoplay or infinite scroll, and warnings will appear at first use, and periodically during continued use. Users will not be able to bypass or click through the warnings. <\/p>\n
Recent studies show that adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of anxiety and depression, and teenagers with the highest levels of social media use are nearly twice as likely to rate their overall mental health as poor or very poor. <\/p>\n
\u201cI am grateful that Governor Hochul is putting in place warnings for families that social media impacts mental health negatively,\u201d said Lysa Mullady, a school counselor and member of the Copiague Teachers Association and past president of the New York State School Counselors Association. \u201cParents don’t realize how harmful things are until there is someone who steps up to elevate understanding.\u201d Warning labels will help educate the public and start important conversations about how these platforms impact children\u2019s health and well-being, Mullady said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI 100 percent support this law,\u201d said Maria Gonzalez, a school psychologist and a member of the Rochester TA. \u201cThis is extremely important if we\u2019re serious about addressing the extremely negative impact these platforms have on our kids\u2019 mental health.\u201d Gonzalez, who was a panelist at last year\u2019s Disconnected conference in Rochester, said she has been eagerly following the legislation since it was introduced last winter. <\/p>\n
Too often, parents don\u2019t realize how dangerous these platforms can be for young people. Constant social media usage impacts children\u2019s social development, and even brain chemistry, altering how their brains function, Gonzalez explained. \u201cI think once parents know how it can affect their children, they will be more likely to follow through and educate themselves,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n
Sponsored by Sen. Andrew Goundardes and Assemblymember Nily Rozic, the social media law is the latest in a series of laws that NYSUT has supported to tackle digital safety and address the youth mental health crisis. <\/p>\n
Beginning in 2024, the union and its partners mobilized to get two groundbreaking bills \u2014 SAFE for Kids Act and the Child Data Protection Act \u2014 passed in New York<\/a>. With the ink barely dry on the legislation, the governor and NYSUT turned their attention to distraction-free schools<\/a>, and succeeded in getting the Distraction-Free Schools law passed and signed in May of 2025<\/a>, making New York the largest state in the country to restrict smart devices during the school day. <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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