ALBANY, N.Y. — Governor Kathy Hochul has signed a new law protecting young users from the potential harms of social media, requiring platforms to display warning labels on features identified as “predatory.” The legislation mandates warnings appear when a user first engages with such features and on a recurring basis, ensuring that users are continually reminded of the potential risks associated with their use.
The initiative is in response to increasing concerns about the mental health of adolescents. Research shows that teenagers spending over three hours a day on social media at a significantly heightened risk for anxiety and depression. Additionally, nearly half of teens report feeling worse about their bodies due to social media use, with those heavily engaged in these platforms nearly twice as likely to rate their mental health as poor.
“Keeping New Yorkers safe has been my priority since taking office, and that includes protecting our kids from the potential harms of social media features that encourage excessive use,” Hochul stated regarding the importance of the law.
Assemblymember Nily Rozic, who co-sponsored the legislation with Senator Andrew Gounardes,undercored the need for transparency in social media’s impact on mental health.
“By requiring warning labels based on the latest medical research, this law puts public health first,” she said, adding that it equips families with the necessary tools to make informed decisions.
Under the new law, users will not have the option to bypass the warning messages.
