Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed new legislation that would require social media platforms to display warning labels about the impact certain features can have on users’ mental health.
This legislation will require social media companies to display warning labels on their platforms when a young user initially uses a predatory feature and periodically thereafter, based on continued use. Users will not be able to bypass or click through the warnings.
“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,” Hochul said. “New Yorkers deserve transparency. With the amount of information that can be shared online, it is essential that we prioritize mental health and take the steps necessary to ensure that people are aware of any potential risks.”
According to recent studies, adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of anxiety and depression and nearly half of adolescents claim that social media makes them feel worse about their bodies, 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.
“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,” Assemblymember Nily Rozic said.
Follow us at jocomms.com for more updates.
