New York has approved a new law requiring social media companies to display mental health warning labels on certain addictive features, a step state leaders say is intended to reduce harm linked to excessive online use. Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the measure Friday, targeting design tools such as infinite scroll, autoplay, and algorithm-driven feeds that critics say encourage prolonged engagement.
The law will affect major platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and YouTube, all of which use features covered by the legislation. When users in New York interact with those features, platforms must display clear, unavoidable warnings about potential mental health risks such as anxiety, depression, and compulsive behavior. While the warnings may appear to any user accessing the features within the state, the policy is primarily aimed at protecting minors and will apply to millions of children and teenagers in New York who regularly use social media.
“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.
Enforcement authority is granted to the New York attorney general, who can seek civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation. The statute applies to conduct occurring wholly or partly in New York but does not extend to users physically located outside the state.
Hochul compared the new warning labels to those required on tobacco and other consumer products, arguing that families deserve clear information about potential risks. The law places New York alongside states such as California and Minnesota that have adopted measures addressing social media’s impact on youth mental health, as pressure grows nationwide on technology companies to respond to rising concerns about children’s well-being online.
This month Australia imposed a social media ban for children under 16.
This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
