New York state has enacted a pioneering law compelling social media giants to affix warning labels on platforms featuring addictive elements such as endless feeds and automatic playback, aiming to alert young users to possible mental health dangers akin to addiction warnings on cigarettes.
Governor Kathy Hochul signed the measure into effect on December 26, framing it as a vital safeguard for children’s well-being amid growing scrutiny of online habits.
“Keeping New Yorkers safe has been my top priority since taking office, and that includes protecting our kids from the potential harms of social media features that encourage excessive use,” Hochul said in a statement.
The legislation targets mechanisms like infinite scrolling, autoplay videos and algorithm-driven content, mandating notices that highlight risks to mental health, particularly for minors.
It draws parallels to established alerts, such as those on tobacco products for cancer hazards or plastic bags for suffocation threats to infants.
“Research shows that social media exposure overstimulates reward centers, creating pathways comparable to those of an individual experiencing substance use or gambling addictions,” the law states, citing scientific findings to justify the requirements.
Enforcement falls to the state attorney general, with fines reaching up to $5,000 for each infraction, though the rules apply solely to activities within New York and not to users accessing platforms from elsewhere.
Major firms including TikTok, Snap, Meta and Alphabet — parent of YouTube — have not yet commented on the development.
The move positions New York alongside states like California and Minnesota in imposing restrictions to shield youth from digital pitfalls, as part of a worldwide wave of regulations.
In the United States, school districts have pursued legal action against social media operators over alleged harms, while Australia recently prohibited under-16s from platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
Similar curbs are under consideration in Malaysia and Denmark, with stricter measures already in place in Britain, Germany and France to curb the influence of online content on adolescents.
