Social media sites like Instagram and TikTok will soon need to display warning labels about their addictive design features when accessed by minors in New York.
It’s the result of a new law signed over the weekend, marking the latest step state leaders are taking to address teens’ near-constant use of social media.
The measure, signed into law late Friday after passing the Legislature earlier this year, will require platforms to warn users under 18 about the mental health risks linked to excessive use. The requirement draws from a U.S. Surgeon General advisory that cited connections between prolonged social media use and conditions like anxiety, depression and disrupted sleep.
Similar concerns have been echoed by Mayor Eric Adams, who earlier this year declared social media a “public health crisis hazard” in New York City.
Under the new law, platforms with features like autoplay, infinite scroll and algorithmically generated feeds must display warning labels to users under 18, similar to the ones already required on alcohol and tobacco products.
“When Big Tobacco was killing thousands of Americans, we stepped in with smart, thoughtful regulations to save lives,” state Sen. Andrew Gounardes, the bill’s lead sponsor in the Senate, said in a statement. “It’s time to do the same with Big Tech. This is about ensuring the internet is a tool that serves us, not the other way around.”
The labels must appear for at least 10 seconds when a minor logs on, then again for at least 30 seconds after three hours of cumulative use and once every additional hour after that. Platforms are barred from hiding the warnings in terms of service or other hard-to-find places.
Violations could result in civil penalties of up to $5,000 per incident. The law will be enforced by the New York State Attorney General’s Office.
State lawmakers have introduced other proposals aimed at curbing the impact of social media on minors, including a bill that would require selfie-based age verification and restrictions on how platforms collect data from teen users.
Representatives for TikTok and Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, did not respond to requests for comment.
