Social Media Warning Label Bills Pass Minn. Legislature, NY Senate
A proposed requirement that mental health warning labels appear on social media passed the Minnesota legislature and was presented to Gov. Tim Walz (D) on Thursday. The New York Senate passed a similar bill the same day. Former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recommended social media warning labels last year (see 2406170059),
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Minnesota legislators tucked the warning label requirement into HF-2, the state's health, children and families finance omnibus. If signed, the bill would take effect July 1, 2026. A social media company would have to present the label each time a user accesses its platforms, with the warning disappearing only when the user exits the platform or "acknowledges the potential for harm and chooses to proceed to the social media platform despite the risk."
The attorney general would enforce the Minnesota bill, which specifically says there is no private right of action.
The Parents Television and Media Council said in an emailed statement that it expects Walz to sign the measure into law. "Until Big Tech takes accountability for protecting children, elected officials must act to protect children,” said Melissa Henson, vice president at the council.
To the east, New York senators voted 59-0 for S-4505 by Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D). The measure still needs approval from the Assembly, whose version (A-5346) is pending in the Codes Committee.
S-4505 would require warnings about “predatory features” including autoplay and infinite scroll. The state’s attorney general would enforce the bill with civil fines up to $5,000 per violation.
Senate passage “is a critical step toward much-needed additional protections for kids online,” said Common Sense Media CEO James Steyer in a statement Friday. “When nicotine was linked to cancer, we labeled every cigarette pack. Social media is addictive, too, and it's time we took the same proven approach.”