Breanna ReevesCalifornia legislators are taking another step toward addressing the impact of social media on adolescent mental health with a new bill that would require social media companies to add warning labels to their platforms.
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Assembly Bill 56 was introduced by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda) on Dec. 10. This bill comes after Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has repeatedly addressed the impacts of social media on the mental health of children and adolescents. In June, Dr. Murthy penned an editorial in the New York Times and called on Congress to issue a warning label on social media.“Social media warning labels are an equitable and transparent way to communicate the risks that social media engagement poses to young users,” stated Attorney General Rob Bonta in a press release.Warning labels alone are not a panacea, they are another tool in the toolbox to address the growing mental health crisis and protect future generations of children.”In 2023, Dr. Murthy issued a Surgeon General’s Advisory, examining the potential harms of social media on adolescents whose brains are still developing. The advisory noted, “Frequent social media use may be associated with distinct changes in the developing brain in the amygdala (important for emotional learning and behavior) and the prefrontal cortex (important for impulse control, emotional regulation, and moderating social behavior), and could increase sensitivity to social rewards and punishments.”In October, Bonta co-led a bipartisan coalition of 14 attorneys general who filed separate “enforcement actions against TikTok for violations of state consumer protection laws.” California’s action stated that Tik Tok exploited adolescent users and downplays the dangers of its platform. In September, Bonta also sponsored Senate Bill 976, which provides new protections for adolescents in California by resetting the defaults on social media platforms that would not promote addictive algorithmic content feeds.“Social media platforms have built systems designed to keep our children endlessly engaged, often at the expense of their mental health,” stated Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan in a press statement. “This bill shines a light on those harms and ensures that families are equipped with critical information to make informed choices. I’m proud to partner with Attorney General Bonta to prioritize the well-being of California’s youth.”
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Source: Black Voice News
