TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Ashley Moody, alongside 41 other attorneys general, is urging congressional leaders to enact legislation mandating a U.S. Surgeon General warning on all algorithm-driven social media platforms. This call for action comes amid increasing concerns about the impact of social media on young people's mental health.
"Studies show that there is a link between youth’s use of social media and psychological harm," said Attorney General Moody. "We are fighting to protect our youth online by calling on Congress to pass legislation requiring a U.S. Surgeon General warning on these platforms. This warning would not only highlight the inherent risks that social media platforms presently pose for young people but also complement other efforts to spur attention, research and investment into the oversight of social media platforms."
The coalition of attorneys general referenced research linking young people's use of algorithm-driven social media platforms to various forms of psychological harm, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts among children and teenagers. They pointed out features like algorithmic recommendations, infinite scrolling, and constant notifications designed to keep users engaged at the expense of their well-being.
State-level actions have already been taken against these platforms. Attorney General Moody initiated legal proceedings against Meta in October 2023. Additionally, several states are either investigating or actively suing TikTok in state courts. Despite these efforts, the attorneys general argue that federal intervention is necessary.
The letter emphasized that "social media platforms have demonstrated an unwillingness to fix the problem on their own."
Joining Attorney General Moody in signing the letter were attorneys general from Alabama, American Samoa, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana Kentucky Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Nevada New Hampshire New Mexico New Jersey New York North Carolina North Dakota Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee U.S Virgin Islands Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Wisconsin and Wyoming.
To read the letter in full click here.
Attorney General Moody has been proactive in her efforts to safeguard youth online. In March she demanded Meta cease monetizing child exploitation and prohibit child-modeling accounts on Instagram.
In January she called on Congress to urge social media outlets to enhance protections for kids.
In October 2023 Attorney General Moody took legal action against Meta alleging that it knowingly designed harmful features aimed at addicting children and teens on Instagram and other platforms.
Since then Meta has implemented minor changes such as introducing a “nightly nudges” setting which prompts users to stop using Instagram or Facebook for the night though this feature is not compulsory Meta has yet to respond formally to Florida’s allegations
Last year Attorney General Moody along with 46 other attorneys general launched a multistate investigation into TikTok’s business practices aiming to determine if they violated consumer protection laws by harming users' mental health particularly children and teens
In March 2022 Attorney General Moody joined a bipartisan coalition demanding TikTok and Snapchat enable parental controls allowing parents more oversight over their children's social media usage