SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California is on the brink of potentially becoming the first state in the United States to mandate mental health warning labels on social media platforms if a newly introduced bill receives legislative approval.
This proposed initiative is spearheaded by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who claims it is vital for enhancing the safety of minors navigating online spaces. Proponents of the bill argue that the growing mental health crisis among youth can be partly attributed to social media usage, a sentiment echoed by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy earlier this year when he urged Congress to impose such requirements. This call for action has garnered bipartisan backing from numerous attorneys general, including Bonta, as they seek to address concerns over the influence of social media on young people’s mental well-being.
Bonta emphasized the urgency of the situation during a press conference, stating, “These companies know the harmful impact their products can have on our children, and they refuse to take meaningful steps to make them safer. Time is up. It’s time we stepped in and demanded change.”
While specific details of the bill remain under wraps, Bonta has suggested that these warning labels could appear at least once a week. Data from the Pew Research Center reveals that as many as 95% of adolescents aged 13 to 17 engage with some form of social media, with over a third of them reporting that they are online “almost constantly.” The growing concern among parents has also led to Australia passing groundbreaking legislation that bans social media use for children under 16, making it the first country to take such a step.
Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, who is behind the California bill, remarked on the troubling transformation of social media from a beneficial tool to an exploitative entity, saying, “The attention economy is using our children and their well-being to make money for these California companies.”
Conversely, critics argue that lawmakers should prioritize initiatives that foster online safety education and mental health resources rather than focusing on labeling bills they deem “constitutionally unsound.” Todd O’Boyle, representing the tech policy group Chamber of Progress, expressed skepticism about the bill’s viability in court, suggesting it may be seen as forced expression.
In a powerful testimony, Victoria Hinks recounted the heartbreaking loss of her 16-year-old daughter, Alexandra, who died by suicide after becoming ensnared in harmful content related to eating disorders and self-harm on social media. Hinks firmly believes that the proposed warning labels might help shield other children from the neglectful practices of platforms that turn a blind eye to the adverse effects on young users’ mental health. “There’s not a bone in my body that doubts social media played a role in leading her to that final, irreversible decision,” she noted. “This could be your story.”
Organizations like Common Sense Media, which are backing the bill, have indicated intentions to advocate for similar mandates in other states.
Over the past decade, California has established itself as a pioneering regulator in safeguarding children from the detrimental aspects of the tech industry. In 2022, it became the first state to prohibit online platforms from utilizing users’ private data in harmful ways directed at minors. It also joined other states in legal actions against companies like Meta and TikTok for intentionally creating addictive features to retain younger audiences.
Governor Gavin Newsom has also lent his support by signing several bills aimed at reducing the impact of social media on children. These pieces of legislation include measures that prevent social media platforms from intentionally providing addictive content to minors without parental approval and regulations regarding the use of smartphones on school grounds.
Meanwhile, discussions at the federal level on child online safety are underway, and new legislative efforts are being considered to hold companies accountable for safeguarding young audiences. Notably, this initiative has bipartisan support, including endorsements from figures like Elon Musk and Donald Trump Jr. However, it is noteworthy that the last comprehensive federal law intended to protect children online was passed in 1998, well before the advent of Facebook.
