New York To Require Social Media Platforms To Display Mental Health Warnings

New York is moving to tighten oversight of social media with a new state law that would require platforms to display warning labels about potential harm to young users’ mental health. Announced by Governor Kathy Hochul, the measure targets features such as infinite scroll, autoplay and algorithm-driven feeds, which officials say can encourage excessive use. The labels are meant to alert users, particularly children and teenagers, to possible mental health risks and help families better understand how these platforms operate.

Hochul said the approach mirrors long-standing warning labels used on other consumer products, such as tobacco or plastics, to flag health and safety concerns. Platforms that fail to comply once the rules take effect could face lawsuits from the state attorney general and fines of up to $5,000 per violation. Companies including TikTok, Snap, Meta and Alphabet have not yet commented publicly on the law.

Other US states, including California and Minnesota, already have similar measures in place. Around the world, concern is growing over the impact of social media on young people’s well-being. Some US education authorities have taken legal action against social media firms, while countries such as Australia have barred under-16s from joining major platforms. Comparable proposals are also being debated in the UK, Germany, France, Malaysia and Denmark.