New York will require social media platforms to display mental health labels | Social Media News

A new state law mandates warnings to young users on platforms with features that “encourage excessive use.”

New York State will require infinite-scrolling, auto-playing and algorithmic-feed social media platforms to display labels about their potential harm to the mental health of young users, Governor Kathy Hochul announced.

Hochul signed a bill Friday that mandates the warning against “addictive” features into law.

“Keeping New Yorkers safe has been my top priority since taking office, and that includes protecting our children from the potential dangers of social media features that encourage excessive use,” Hochul said in a statement.

The governor compared social media labels to warnings on other products like tobacco, which communicate the risk of cancer, or to plastic packaging, which warns of choking hazards for young children.

“Research shows that exposure to social media overstimulates reward centers, creating pathways comparable to those of an individual suffering from drug or gaming addiction,” the law states.

If social media platforms for violations of the regulations when they take effect, the state attorney general may take legal action and seek civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation.

The law would apply to conduct occurring partly or entirely in New York, but not when the platform is accessed by users physically outside the state.

Spokespeople for TikTok, Snap, Meta and Alphabet have not yet released statements reacting to the new law.

With this social media measure, New York is poised to join other U.S. states, such as California and Minnesota, that have similar social media laws for young users.

The effect of social media on children’s mental health has become a growing global concern, and some U.S. school districts have already begun suing social media companies.

This month, Australia went further and forbidden prevent children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat and Reddit.

Countries like Malaysia and Denmark have announced plans to introduce similar bans in the near future, while countries like the UK, Germany and France have tightened social media laws for younger users.