In a letter sent to Congress, Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, President of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG), along with a bipartisan coalition of 42 state attorneys general, urged lawmakers to pass legislation requiring U.S. surgeon general warnings on all algorithm-driven social media platforms. This call comes amid increasing scrutiny of social media companies for their impact on young people's mental health.
The appeal follows the National Association of Attorney General’s Presidential Initiative Summit held in Portland, Oregon, which focused on AG Rosenblum’s initiative: America’s Youth: AGs Looking Out for the Next Generation.
The attorneys general referenced growing research linking young people's use of these platforms to psychological harm, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. They also highlighted how algorithmic recommendations, infinite scrolling, and constant notifications keep users engaged at the expense of other activities or sleep.
“Last week we heard from experts from across the nation and across industry, academia, and government. The message we heard was loud and clear: our youth face challenges we never had to contend with when we were young, and many of those challenges are amplified by the platforms, companies, and features prevalent across social media. We attorneys general—the Peoples’ Attorneys for our country and its territories—strongly urge Congress to take the Surgeon General’s proposed social media platform warnings seriously and hold tech companies to a higher standard of conduct and responsibility,” AG Rosenblum emphasized.
States have already taken action against these platforms. Last year saw 45 states and the District of Columbia bring lawsuits against Meta; many states are investigating or suing TikTok in state court. Despite these efforts, the attorneys general argue that federal action is essential.
The letter asserts that “social media platforms have demonstrated an unwillingness to fix the problem on their own.” With substantial support from multiple states' top legal officers, this position now stands as formal policy for NAAG.
“I welcome the opportunity to testify before Congress in support of NAAG’s letter and policy, and strongly recommend Congress move with urgency on this consensus issue of youth safety and well-being,” AG Rosenblum added.
Further details can be found in AG Rosenblum's letter describing her Presidential Initiative as well as in the collective letter from 42 Attorneys General listing signatory states and territories.