AGs call for social media warning label

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New York Attorney General Letitia James is one of 42 attorneys general urging Congress to implement warning labels on social media platforms, as called for by the United States Surgeon General.

A surgeon general’s warning label, which requires congressional authorization, would serve as a regular reminder of social media’s significant mental health harms for adolescents.

“Young people across our country are struggling, and these addictive social media algorithms are only making this mental health crisis worse,” James wrote in a news release.

“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,” she wrote.

In the letter, the coalition of attorneys general echoed Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy’s June 2024 call for a surgeon general’s warning label on social media platforms, noting that such a warning would both highlight the inherent risks of social media, while also complementing ongoing efforts to spur research and investments in the oversight of platforms.