A bipartisan group of 42 attorneys general today called for Congress to require Surgeon General warning labels on social media apps to attend to the growing mental health crisis among young adults in the U.S.
In June this year, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy penned an op-ed for the New York Times in which he called the mental health crisis among the young a national emergency, citing numerous studies that largely blamed conditions such as depression and anxiety on the misuse of social media.
Murphy said he believes that warning labels, similar to those found on cigarette packets, could be a part of the solution. In an open letter today, the 42 attorneys general agreed.
“As state attorneys general, we sometimes disagree about important issues, but all of us share an abiding concern for the safety of the kids in our jurisdictions – and algorithm-driven social media platforms threaten that safety,” said the letter. “A growing body of research links young people’s use of those social media platforms to a variety of serious psychological harms, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.”
States have sued leading tech firms in the past for what they believe is harm that has been caused to the young. Last year, 42 attorneys general sued Meta Platforms Inc., accusing the company of “cultivating addiction to boost corporate profits.” Such allegations have been leveled at Meta for many years now, just as they have against the Chinese app TikTok.
The signatories of the letter today said there’s only so much that can be done by suing social media companies, which is why a warning label needs to happen.
“A warning would not only highlight the inherent risks that social media platforms presently pose for young people, but also complement other efforts to spur attention, research, and investment into the oversight of social media platforms,” they wrote. “We urge Congress to consider such measures and continue the search for innovative solutions to protect our children in the face of emerging technologies.”
Individual states have introduced bills that may counteract the more negative aspects of social media, such as New York’s recent social media bill. Last year, lawmakers introduced the “Protecting Kids on Social Media Act,” although free speech advocates have aired concerns over what they say is an “unconstitutional” piece of legislation.