A coalition of attorneys general from 42 states is urging Congress to mandate a Surgeons General warning label on algorithm-driven social media platforms, according to a Sept. 9 letter shared with Becker's.
In the letter to congressional leaders, the group backed a call to action from U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, and highlighted important research that links social media use to depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation in youth.
The coalition also outlined that it has been actively investigating Meta and TikTok for harmful product features and emphasized that several other states commenced litigation against TikTok for violating state consumer protection laws.
While adding Surgeon General warning labels would be a significant step, the attorneys general stressed that there is a need for further federal legislation to address the broader crisis.