New York officials announce legislation linking adolescent mental health issues to social media use

Convinced that social media platforms are fueling a mental health crisis among the nation’s young people, New York public officials announced new legislation Wednesday that would restrict algorithms targeting young users.

“Young New Yorkers are struggling with record levels of anxiety and depression, and social media companies that use addictive features to keep minors on their platforms longer are largely to blame,” said New York Attorney General Letitia James.

The legislation would, among other things, give his office new enforcement powers over social media companies.

Algorithmic feeds are designed to leverage personal data to deliver content to users that keeps them engaged for as long as possible. Sponsors of the legislation said it increased the addictive nature of social media platforms and increased the risk to the well-being of young users.

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube would all be subject to legislation that allows users under 18 to opt out of receiving algorithmic feeds, allows parents to allow algorithmic feeds to limit access between midnight and 6 a.m. and prohibits social media platforms from sending notifications. to minors during these same hours without verifiable parental authorization.

The attorney general’s office would be authorized to bring suit to enjoin or seek damages or civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation.

Last May, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned that excessive use of social media could pose a “profound risk” to the mental health of young people in the United States.

“I’m very concerned that social media has become a significant contributor to the pain and struggles that many of our young people face,” Murthy said in an interview on ABC News Live.

An advisory from the surgeons general is “reserved for significant public health challenges that require national awareness and immediate action,” according to the report released by the surgeons general’s office.

The surgeon general said that even though we are in the “middle of a youth mental health crisis,” it is important to identify possible causes. The opinion acknowledges that social media has both positive and negative effects on young people, but that ultimately there is not enough “clear research and data” to determine whether it is “safe” for adolescents.