California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan have introduced a bill, AB 56, to address the mental health risks associated with social media. The legislation would require platforms to display warning labels, informing users about potential harms.
Attorney General Bonta emphasized that many platforms rely on addictive features and harmful content to drive revenue, which can negatively affect users’ mental health. While the bill does not yet specify the format or extent of these labels, it references other laws, such as the Cyberbullying Protection Act and the Online Violence Prevention Act, as examples. These laws mandate that platforms provide tools to report cyberbullying and violent content, setting a possible precedent for AB 56.
Growing Concerns Over Mental Health
The bill is part of a broader movement to tackle the adverse effects of social media. Recently, 42 U.S. attorneys general signed an open letter urging Congress to mandate warning labels on social media, akin to those used on tobacco products. This follows a 2023 report on youth mental health, which highlighted the risks of excessive social media use. The report found that children spending over three hours daily on these platforms are twice as likely to develop mental health issues.
Although warning labels alone won’t solve these problems, they could help raise awareness. A similar effort in Texas to restrict harmful content for teens was repealed in 2024. However, California’s legislative approach may offer a more practical path for implementing these measures.
Beyond Mental Health Risks
In addition to mental health concerns, online platforms pose other dangers, such as mass surveillance of children, notes NIXsolutions. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has flagged this as a significant issue. These risks further underline the need for increased transparency and accountability from social media companies.
As AB 56 progresses, we’ll keep you updated on its developments and potential impact on user safety and mental health awareness.