NY Governor Hochul signs bill requiring warning labels on ‘disturbing’ social media

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill this week that will require social media sites to display warning signs to young users before they are exposed to things like autoplay and endless scrolling.

State lawmakers passed the law – S4505/A5346 – back in June, and words calling for mental health warnings on “additional social media sites,” which are defined as platforms that offer “disturbing content, push notifications, autoplay, unlimited scrolling, and/or reading as a major part” of their services, although an exception may be made if the attorney general deems that this is being used “for a legitimate purpose unrelated to the use of such a platform.”

The to announce from Hochul’s office said that these platforms should display warnings “when a young user has used predatory material and periodically thereafter.” Those users could not ignore the warnings.

The announcement compares the proposed warning labels to those added to products such as tobacco, alcohol, and radios with flashing lights. Then-Dong General Vivek Murthy said last year that social networks should add warning labels.

“Keeping New Yorkers safe has been a top priority for me since I took office, and that includes protecting our children from the dangers of social media that encourage overuse,” Hochul said in a statement.

One of the sponsors of the bill, Assemblymember Nily Rozic, made a similar point in his speech: “New York families need to be honest about the impact of social media on mental health.

California lawmakers have provided matching funds.

Last year, New York passed the law which requires social networking sites to obtain parental consent before showing children “adult content” and before collecting or selling the personal information of users under 18.

This is not Hochul’s only end of the year technology law; him too recently signed the AI ​​security-focused RAISE Act.