The New York Legislature has enacted a law mandating social media platforms to display warning labels regarding potential mental health risks for young users. Signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Friday, the law targets platforms utilizing features like infinite scrolling and algorithmic feeds.
These warning labels must appear when users first engage with any of the identified features, as well as periodically thereafter. This initiative reflects growing concerns about the impact of social media on youth mental health, a topic underscored by the US surgeon general's previous calls for similar measures.
In addition to this new legislation, Hochul had previously signed two bills aimed at safeguarding children from social media's adverse effects. Other regions, including California and Australia, are considering or have implemented comparable regulations to address these issues.
Platforms accessed from New York will be subject to these regulations, and responses from major social media companies like Meta, Snap, and TikTok are pending as inquiries have been made regarding the new law.