Attorney General Bob Ferguson urged Congress today to take action on a U.S. Surgeon General recommendation to require warning labels on social media platforms.
Ferguson and a bipartisan group of 42 attorneys general sent a letter to congressional leaders, demanding Congress help abate the nation’s youth mental health crisis by mandating a surgeon general’s warning label on algorithm-driven social media platforms, including Instagram and Facebook.
Ferguson sued Meta, the parent company of these platforms, last year along with a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general. The federal lawsuit accuses Meta of prioritizing profits over the well-being of its users, particularly targeting youth with features designed to keep them engaged while downplaying associated risks.
Research indicates that excessive social media use by children and adolescents correlates with increased poor mental health outcomes, especially for young girls. On June 17, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy authored an opinion piece in The New York Times advocating for congressional action to require such warning labels. Murthy emphasized that a warning label would regularly remind parents and adolescents about the potential dangers of social media.
“There is no seatbelt for parents to click, no helmet to snap in place, no assurance that trusted experts have investigated and ensured that these platforms are safe for our kids," Murthy wrote. "There are just parents and their children trying to figure it out on their own, pitted against some of the best product engineers and most well-resourced companies in the world.”
The letter from Ferguson and the bipartisan coalition reiterates many concerns highlighted in the multistate lawsuit: social media has fueled the youth mental health crisis; companies are unwilling to address the problem independently; and “this generational harm demands immediate action.”
“As a parent of teenage twins, this is personal,” Ferguson said. “Social media is ubiquitous, but that does not mean it’s safe for kids. This is one step we can take to safeguard the well-being of Washington youth.”
The coalition includes attorneys general from California, Colorado, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Tennessee, Alabama, American Samoa, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Nevada New Hampshire New Mexico North Carolina North Dakota Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
Experts agree that excessive social media use by children correlates with physical and psychological harms such as higher rates of depression anxiety attention deficit disorders eating disorders suicidal thoughts body dysmorphia
Social media use can disrupt essential activities like sleep and physical activity depending on online time
Recent research shows adolescents who spend more than three hours per day on social media face double risk experiencing poor mental health outcomes symptoms depression anxiety Social media may perpetuate body dissatisfaction disordered eating behaviors social comparison low self-esteem especially among adolescent girls One-third or more girls aged 11-15 say they feel “addicted” certain platforms over half teenagers report hard give up social media
In June Ferguson launched first-of-its-kind statewide reporting system exclusively focused safety well-being young people HearMeWA removes barriers help young Washingtonians get help deal most pressing challenges bullying social pressures suicidal thoughts threats violence anything makes life hard No problem too small report HearMeWA created direct input young people serves HearMeWA makes easy connect youth wide range existing support services offering direct line national crisis center 24 hours day 365 days year Reports made phone text online mobile apps Apple Google stores Once report filed highly trained crisis counselors triage connect person service providers help Learn more hearmewa.org
Background lawsuit against Meta
Ferguson attorneys general nationwide filed federal lawsuit against Meta U.S District Court Northern District California October 2023 The lawsuit accuses Meta top leaders knowingly targeting youth calling them valuable untapped market harmful features designed get hooked life maximize profits Meta simultaneously publicly downplayed associated risks users including disregarding own research These tactics contradicted company public-facing claims puts user safety first In fact Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg ignored internal documents detailed consultation 21 independent experts around world found filters cosmetic surgery effects severe impacts individuals using effects viewing images Experts told Meta children particularly vulnerable those history eating disorders mental illness Instagram head public policy wrote Zuckerberg outside experts nearly unanimous harm here Zuckerberg canceled meeting discuss issues subsequently vetoed proposal ban filters dismissed concerns paternalistic