On Sept. 10, a group of bipartisan attorneys general across 42 states demanded that Congress mandate Surgeon General warning labels on social media platforms. Purportedly, these labels would eventually warn about the mental health implications and addictive qualities of the internet for young people.
In the letter, the group argued the need for immediate action. “By mandating a surgeon general’s warning on algorithm-driven social media platforms, Congress can help abate this growing crisis and protect future generations of Americans,” they wrote.
Moreover, the letter adds that in 2023, numerous attorneys general took legal action against Meta and TikTok’s “misconduct” towards young people. This purported “misconduct” includes deploying “harmful and manipulative product features to push young users’ engagement with the Instagram platform to dangerous levels.”
What have other states done?
Other states, the letter also adds, have implemented local laws about social media and young people. However, social media platforms are said to have “fiercely resisted” these attempts to combat what the attorneys general describe as a “crisis.
Furthermore, the sentiments expressed in the letter aligned with those of Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, who compared social media to cigarettes in a New York Times op-ed. “Everyone needs to know the risk associated with these social media platforms,” New York Attorney General Letitia James said in a statement to CNN.
“The Surgeon General’s recommendation is a strong first step in that direction, and I hope warning labels will be implemented swiftly to raise more awareness about this issue.”
