California Attorney General Rob Bonta, alongside a bipartisan coalition of 42 attorneys general, has called on Congress to require a surgeon general’s warning on social media platforms. This move aligns with the United States Surgeon General's recent recommendation and aims to address the mental health crisis affecting young people.
“Social media companies have continuously demonstrated an unwillingness to tackle the youth mental health crisis, instead looking to dig in deeper for the sake of profits,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Warning labels on social media are a clear and frank way to communicate the risks that social media engagement poses to young users. Just like we are certain of the risk of alcohol or cigarette use, we are certain of the mental health risks of social media use. I urge Congress to adopt this commonsense step that complements California's work to protect our children and teens.”
Research increasingly links social media usage among young people with various serious harms, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. The attorneys general argue that algorithm-driven features disrupt adolescents' lives by interfering with sleep through continuous notifications and infinite scrolling designed to keep them engaged.
The letter from the attorneys general emphasizes state efforts in protecting children online but calls for federal action due to the epidemic's scale. A warning label would provide clear information about these risks.
Attorney General Bonta has previously taken significant steps against social media companies. In October 2023, he co-led a coalition in filing a federal lawsuit against Meta Platforms for allegedly designing harmful features on Instagram and Facebook that addict children and teens. In November 2023, he announced the release of an unredacted copy of this federal complaint.
Additionally, in March 2023, Bonta supported efforts compelling TikTok to produce subpoenaed materials related to investigations into its role in youth mental health issues. In January 2024, he introduced landmark legislation aimed at protecting youth online: SB 976 (Protecting our Kids from Social Media Addiction Act) and AB 1949 (California Children’s Data Privacy Act), both awaiting Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature.
In June 2024, Bonta announced a $500,000 settlement with Tilting Point Media LLC over allegations of violating privacy laws by collecting children's data without parental consent through their mobile app game “SpongeBob: Krusty Cook-Off.”
A copy of the letter sent by the attorneys general can be found here.