Senators introduce legislation to require mental health warning labels on social media

Two senators have introduced legislation requiring social media sites to warn users about possible mental health risks associated with their use. 

Sens. John Fetterman and Katie Britt introduced the Stop the Scroll Act Sept. 24. The legislation would require social media sites to display a pop-up when users access the platforms, warning them of potential mental health risks associated with social media, and directing them to mental health resources. 

Users would have to acknowledge the information before continuing to social media platforms, according to a Sept. 25 news release from Mr. Fetterman. 

In June, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for platforms to display a warning "stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents."

In a letter published earlier in September, 42 state attorneys general urged Congress to mandate a Surgeon General's warning label on algorithm-driven social media platforms. 

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