42 Attorneys General Urge Congress to Add Surgeon General Warning on Social Media Platforms

Aiming to address a youth mental health crisis, the group cites evidence that similar labels on tobacco raised awareness and changed behavior.

The state attorneys general calling for warnings on social media cite research that links usage to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation among adolescents. Leon Neal/Getty Images

In a joint effort to improve the mental health of America’s youth, 42 state and U.S. territory attorneys general are urging Congress to require U.S. surgeon general warnings on algorithm-driven social media platforms.

The bipartisan group of attorneys general from 39 states across the country—as well as the District of Columbia, American Samoa, and U.S. Virgin Islands—sent a letter to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), calling for swift federal action to address the harmful impact of social media on youth.