New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed a landmark bill into law, mandating that social media platforms display prominent warning labels to younger users before they engage with features deemed 'addictive,' such as autoplay videos and infinite scrolling feeds. This legislation marks a significant step in New York's efforts to safeguard youth mental health online.
The bill, identified as S4505/A5346, was passed by state legislators in June. Its text specifically calls for mental health warnings on "addictive social media platforms," which are defined as services offering "an addictive feed, push notifications, autoplay, infinite scroll, and/or like counts as a significant part" of their offerings. An exception can be made if the Attorney General determines these features serve "a valid purpose unrelated to prolonging use of such platform."
According to an announcement from Governor Hochul's office, platforms will be required to show these warnings "when a young user initially uses the predatory feature and periodically thereafter." Crucially, these warnings will not be bypassable by users.
The proposed warning labels draw parallels to those already present on products like tobacco, alcohol, and media containing flashing lights. Last year, then-Surgeon General Vivek Murthy publicly advocated for social media platforms to implement similar warning labels, highlighting growing concerns about their impact on youth.
"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 stated.
Assemblymember Nily Rozic, one of the bill's sponsors, echoed this sentiment: "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."
New York's move comes as other states consider similar measures. California lawmakers, for instance, have proposed a comparable bill. This isn't the first time New York has legislated on youth social media use; last year, the state passed laws requiring parental consent for platforms to show children "addictive feeds" and to collect or sell personal data of users under 18.
Governor Hochul's recent legislative actions extend beyond social media, as she also recently signed the AI safety-focused RAISE Act, underscoring a broader push for tech regulation in the state.
