New York to Require Warning Labels on Social Media Platforms

The required warnings are based on consumer protections for products such as tobacco and alcohol, noting risks such as increased anxiety and depression.

A teenager uses her mobile phone to access social media in New York City on Jan. 31, 2024, in this photo illustration. Illustration by Spencer Platt/Getty Images

New York is requiring warning labels on social media platforms about addictive features in a bid to address a youth mental health crisis.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the bill—targeting infinite scrolling, auto-play videos, and algorithmic feeds that encourage prolonged use—into law on Dec. 26.

The law, S4505/A5346, sponsored by state Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, requires social media platforms to display non-dismissible warnings when young users first encounter these features and at regular intervals during use.

The required warnings are based on consumer protections seen on products such as tobacco and alcohol, and note risks such as increased anxiety, depression, and poor body image.

“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.

“New Yorkers deserve transparency. With the amount of information that can be shared online, it is essential that we prioritize mental health and take the steps necessary to ensure that people are aware of any potential risks.”

Studies highlighted in the legislation suggest that teens spending more than three hours daily on social media face doubled risks of anxiety and depression symptoms. About half of adolescents report that platforms worsen their body image, and those with heavy usage are nearly twice as likely to describe their mental health as poor.

“New York families deserve honesty about how social media platforms impact mental health. By requiring warning labels based on the latest medical research, this law puts public health first and finally gives us the tools we need to make informed decisions,” Rozic said in a statement.

“I’m proud to sponsor this legislation alongside Senator Gounardes as part of our broader effort to create a safer digital environment for kids.”

In June 2024, Hochul signed the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act, also sponsored by Gounardes and Rozic, mandating parental consent for minors to access addictive algorithms while also banning unsolicited nighttime notifications.

The SAFE Act aims to address how platforms exploit vulnerabilities for engagement while profiting billions in ad revenue from minors. New York Attorney General Letitia James, who helped draft the bill, sought public input on it in 2024.

The New York Child Data Protection Act went into effect on June 20, prohibiting platforms from collecting, sharing, or selling personal data of users younger than 18 without consent, and requiring parental consent for children younger than 13.

A 2024 Siena poll showed 63 percent voter support for restricting addictive content for minors.

Under the Joe Biden administration, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for social media warning labels to protect teens.