California could require social media to post mental health warning labels
A bill by California Attorney General Rob Bonta could require social media to post labels warning users about health problems resulting from prolonged browsing by minors
California Attorney General Rob Bonta has introduced a bill to require social media to post warning labels about health problems for minors resulting from prolonged browsing.
According to U.S. health authorities, “users who browse social media for more than three hours a day “are exposed to a double risk of experiencing mental health problems.”
Attorney General Bonta’s bill, known as AB 56, is supported by Assemblywoman Rebecca Bauer-Kahan. Both have referred that “subscribers, especially children and adolescents, should have access to clear information about the harmful effects that can be caused by the use of social media services. They suggest that companies such as Meta, Snap, ByteDance or X should show notices to users of all ages when they log in for the first time.”
Then, the sending of these notifications should be weekly, remain on screen for at least 90 seconds and cannot be skipped.
The legal tool is based on the provisions provided for in the laws of Protection against Cyberbullying and Prevention of Online Violence, which are in force in the state of California.
Among the provisions is the obligation for social networks to “inform about their protocols to avoid, detect and contain cyberbullying and the dissemination of violent materials.”
The bill addresses the problem of addiction to social networks among minors in particular. In this regard, it is appropriate to remember that in the United States the minimum age to use these digital communication spaces is 13 years old. Despite this, nearly 40% of children between 8 and 12 years old are members of one of these platforms.
“Vivek Murthy, the director general of public health in the United States, said at the beginning of the year that big tech should adopt a labeling system to warn about its possible negative effects on psychological well-being. The proposal was presented to Congress and supported by 42 attorneys general, including Bonta.”
M.Pino
Source: wired
(Reference image source: Panos Sakalakis for Unsplash)
Visit our news channel on Google News and follow us to get accurate, interesting information and stay up to date with everything. You can also see our daily content on X/Twitter and Instagram
