California Proposes Mental Health Warning Labels on Social Media

California is poised to become the first U.S. state to mandate mental health warning labels on social media platforms under a newly introduced bill by Attorney General Rob Bonta. The legislation aims to address concerns about the negative impact of social media on youth mental health, with bipartisan support from numerous attorneys general following a call from U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. Proponents argue that the bill is necessary to protect children from the addictive nature of social media, which has been linked to increased risks of depression and anxiety among adolescents. The proposed warning labels, similar to those for tobacco products, would notify users of the potential mental health risks and would be displayed weekly. However, industry representatives express concerns about the constitutionality of such mandates, citing free speech rights. This initiative reflects California's ongoing efforts to regulate the tech industry for child safety, amidst a lack of federal action on this issue since 1998.