By Gavin Boyle
A New York bill waiting to be signed into law by the governor would require social media sites to display health warnings that notify users of the addictive properties and the negative mental health effects linked to these platforms.
“[Senate Bill S4505] requires warning labels on social media platforms which provide an addictive feed, autoplay, infinite scroll, like counts, and/or push notifications; directs the commissioner of mental health to design the warning label,” the bill reads.
This legislation comes after over a decade of research has returned undeniable proof that regular social media use in developing brains leads to a variety of mental health issues including higher rates of anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts and ideations.
“Just like warning labels were added to cigarette packages, social media labels are intended to warn users against the harms,” said Melissa Henson, the vice president of Parents Television and Media Council. “It’s one common-sense solution among many that rightly aims to confront social media harms.”
“More states are recognizing the harms of social media and taking steps to mitigate or eliminate them,” Henson added. “Utah, Georgia, New York, Florida, Virginia, Texas, Minnesota, and New York are among the states that have introduced or enacted laws that deal with social media harms on children.”
These widespread efforts to stem the negative effects of social media at a governmental level largely come as a response to the call by then-U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy who argued social media should receive a national Surgeon General’s warning in June of 2024.
“It is time to require a surgeon general’s warning label on social media platforms, stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents. A surgeon general’s warning label, which requires congressional action, would regularly remind parents and adolescents that social media has not been proved safe,” Murthy said. “Evidence from tobacco studies show that warning labels can increase awareness and change behavior.”
Along with enacting their own warning labels, as New York may soon do, states have also taken action to reduce social media use during school by requiring halls and classrooms to be phone-free zones.
During its recent legislative session, Texas, for example, passed HB 1481, which will ban children from using their cell phones in school starting September 1.
“By creating a phone-free environment, we’re giving teachers the tools to teach without disruption and students the space to learn, think critically, and engage with one another face-to-face,” said State Representative Caroline Fairly. “This bill puts education, not screen time, at the center of the school day. I anticipate not only seeing major jumps in GPA’s and test scores, but improvements in mental health and social wellbeing as well.”
Now that research has shown social media to be detrimental for kids, it is encouraging to see swift action being taken by lawmakers to protect the youth and attempt to save them from the epidemic of mental health issues plaguing our nation.
Read Next: Is Everyone in Favor of School Cell Phone Bans?
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