New York governor to Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and other social media platforms: Display mental health warnings on feed

New York governor Kathy Hochul has sent a warning to social media platforms. She announced that social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and others are required to display prominent mental health warning labels on their feeds under a new law. The mandate specifically targets features designed to encourage excessive use, such as infinite scrolling, auto-play videos, among others.According to a report by news agency Reuters, the law applies to conduct occurring partly or wholly in New York but not when the platform is accessed by users physically outside the state. This move is the latest escalation in an effort to curb the ‘addictive’ nature of these social media websites, particularly for younger users.“Keeping New Yorkers safe has been my top priority since taking office, and that includes protecting our kids from the potential harms of social media features that encourage excessive use,” Hochul said in a statement.The governor framed the new requirement as a basic public safety measure, comparing the digital warnings to those found on physical products that pose health or safety risks. The legislation is tailored to the mechanics of modern social media: Infinite scroll: Content that continues to load as the user moves down the page.Auto-play: Videos that start automatically, often leading to longer-than-intended viewing sessions.Algorithmic feeds: Content curated by AI to maximise user engagement.New York is not alone in its pursuit of stricter digital safeguards, and joins California and Minnesota in passing social media regulations. Australia, earlier this month, banned social media entirely for children under the age of 16.The legislation aligns with a 2023 advisory from the US Surgeon General, who warned of the risks social media poses to youth mental health and specifically called for the type of warning labels New York has now codified into law.