New York (WRGB) — Governor Hochul has signed new legislation that will require social media platforms with certain addictive features to display warning labels alerting young users to potential mental health risks.
The legislation, S4505/A5346, applies to social media platforms that utilize features such as addictive feeds, autoplay, or infinite scroll. Under the law, these platforms must display warning labels to young users when they initially engage with those features and periodically thereafter. Users will not be able to bypass or click through the warnings.
Governor Hochul said the measure builds on her administration’s ongoing efforts to address the youth mental health crisis across New York State.
Hochul said,
Keeping 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. New Yorkers deserve transparency, and with the amount of information shared online, it is essential that we prioritize mental health and ensure people are aware of potential risks.
According to recent studies cited by the state, adolescents who spend more than three hours per day on social media face double the risk of anxiety and depression. About half of adolescents report that social media makes them feel worse about their bodies, while teenagers with the highest levels of use are nearly twice as likely to rate their overall mental health as poor or very poor.
State officials compared the warning labels to those already required on products such as tobacco, alcohol, certain food items, and video games, which are designed to inform consumers of health and safety risks.
The law aims to curb prolonged use of predatory social media features by ensuring young users are made aware of potential mental health impacts. Warning labels will appear when a user first engages with these features and will reappear based on continued use.
Assemblymember Nily Rozic, who sponsored the legislation, said the law provides families with critical information.
Rozic said,
New York families deserve honesty about how social media platforms impact mental health. By requiring warning labels based on the latest medical research, this law puts public health first and finally gives us the tools we need to make informed decisions. I’m proud to sponsor this legislation alongside Senator Gounardes as part of our broader effort to create a safer digital environment for kids.