New York Requires Mental Health Warning Labels on Social Media Platforms

Social media in New York could get new rules (photo: doc. unsplash)

JAKARTA - New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced a new law requiring social media platforms to display warning labels about the dangers of mental health.

This rule targets applications that have infinite scrolling features, automatic rotation, and feed algorithms that are considered risky for young users. This policy was taken by the local government to protect children from excessive use of social media.

Governor Hochul said that keeping residents safe, including in the digital space, will be a priority during her term. She is determined to, "Protect children from the potential harm of social media features that encourage excessive use is critical."

The law specifically targets platforms that offer 'addictive feeds' to their users. The rules apply to all platform activities that take place within the legal jurisdiction of the state of New York.

64,422 people.

The government also authorized the attorney general to take firm legal action if violations occur. Technology companies that violate can be subject to civil penalties of up to 5,000 US dollars (Rp83 million) for each violation found.

New York's move follows the footsteps of other states such as California and Minnesota that have similar regulations. Internationally, Australia has even imposed a total ban on social media for children under the age of 16.

Until this news was made, major companies such as TikTok, Snap, Meta, and Alphabet have not given an official response. However, pressure on this industry is expected to continue to increase as child protection efforts become stronger.