(ReclaimingAmerica.net) – Deeply concerned about American children’s mental health, attorneys general from 42 states and U.S. territories are urging Congress to implement Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s suggestion for mandatory warning labels on social media platforms.
They addressed a letter to key congressional leaders, calling for legislation to mandate these warnings.
“Young people are facing a mental health crisis, which is fueled in large part by social media,” the letter states. “As Surgeon General Murthy recognized, this generational harm demands immediate action.”
“By mandating a surgeon general’s warning on algorithm-driven social media platforms, Congress can help abate this growing crisis and protect future generations of Americans,” the letter added.
Back in June, Murthy proposed that social media should have warning labels similar to those on tobacco and alcohol.
He made his suggestions based on studies that suggest such warnings could influence user habits.
Acknowledging their differences on various topics, the attorneys general remain united over their concern for children’s safety, particularly regarding the dangers posed by algorithm-driven platforms.
“A growing body of research links young people’s use of those social media platforms to a variety of serious psychological harms, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation,” they explained.
The letter describes how social media algorithms disrupt young users’ lives, including their sleep, by encouraging them to stay engaged through notifications and features like infinite scrolling.
While the attorneys general have pursued legal and legislative actions against social media companies at the state level, they believe the federal government should step in to address the issue.
A “surgeon general’s warning on social media platforms, though not sufficient to address the full scope of the problem, would be one consequential step toward mitigating the risk of harm to youth,” the officials noted.
They argue that this warning should be part of broader efforts to safeguard children’s well-being.
“This problem will not solve itself and the social media platforms have demonstrated an unwillingness to fix the problem on their own,” the letter said.
It concluded with a push for Congress to require such warnings as the Surgeon General recommends.
The letter was signed by all state attorneys general except those from Alaska, Arizona, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Texas and West Virginia.
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