AB 56 would require warning labels on all social media platforms to better protect California’s kids’ and teens’ mental health.
While social media has many benefits — including providing opportunities for self-expression and connection, and creating jobs in California — growing research shows it can have a detrimental impact on children's and teenagers’ mental health and well-being.
For example, young people who spend more than 3 hours on social media per day face DOUBLE the risk of poor mental health outcomes, including anxiety and depression.
It’s why countries like Australia recently banned social media accounts for users under 16 years old, and why California is leading the way to address this growing public health crisis.
This week, Rob joined Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan to announce a new bill (AB 56) that would require warning labels on all social media platforms.
Will you support the Attorney General’s bill to better protect California’s kids and adolescents from the harms of social media?
Social media companies know they’re harming young people, yet they continue to push addictive features and harmful content across their platforms for the sake of maximizing engagement and profit.
An increasing number of studies show that social media use can cause depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and chronic sleep disruption in kids — so much so that the U.S. Surgeon General called on Congress to require a surgeon general’s warning on social media platforms, which Rob strongly supports.
Until Congress acts, our AG is leading the way and working to protect California’s young people as soon as possible. Yesterday, he was joined by a mother who lost her daughter to suicide at the age of 16 earlier this year and spoke in support of this bill, stating that social media played a role in this heartbreaking tragedy.
If passed, AB 56 will require social media companies to display a black box warning to users of all ages upon their first use of the platform and at least once weekly after. This warning would be displayed continuously for at least 90 seconds, to ensure users know and understand the potential harm to their health.
We have warning labels for cigarettes and alcohol — why not social media?
This legislation would create an opportunity for social media companies to be part of the solution to the public health crisis facing our kids. If you agree, show your support for AB 56 by adding your name now!
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Thanks for standing with Rob,
Team Bonta
