Attorney General John M. Formella announces that in a letter sent to Congress this week he and a bipartisan coalition of 41 other attorneys general are calling on lawmakers to pass legislation requiring a U.S. Surgeon General warning on all algorithm-driven social media platforms. The letter comes amidst growing scrutiny of social media companies for their role in generational harm to young people’s mental health.
The attorneys general cited growing bodies of research that link young people’s use of these platforms to psychological harm, including depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts in kids and teens. They also note how platforms feature irresistible algorithmic recommendations, infinite scrolling, and a constant stream of notifications are designed to keep kids relentlessly engaged on the platforms, even at the expense of taking breaks, engaging in other activities, or sleeping.
“New Hampshire children and their families deserve to know about the harms that social media platforms can cause. Congress should require these platforms to clearly tell their users about those harms as one step to help protect kids from the predatory practices of social media,” said Attorney General Formella.
In June 2023, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office solicited stories from parents, teachers, and coaches about the negative impacts of social media. Concurrently, the Governor issued an Executive Order for state agencies to develop curricula addressing these harms, highlighted by the GoPlayNH initiative. In October 2023, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office filed a lawsuit against Meta alongside 44 other states nationwide. In June of this year, New Hampshire became of the first states in the country to file a lawsuit against TikTok to stop the harmful impacts that the platform has on kids. “While our investigation into social media companies is ongoing, our findings confirm that these companies have exploited children's vulnerabilities and misled those responsible for their safety,” said Attorney General Formella. “We remain committed to holding these companies accountable and ensuring a safer online environment for our children.”
The attorneys general say more action is necessary because “social media platforms have demonstrated an unwillingness to fix the problem on their own.”
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