New York mandates warning labels on addictive social media platforms

New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill this week requiring social media platforms to show warning labels to younger users before they are exposed to features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling. The regulation targets specific engagement features, building on the state’s existing data collection and consent protections. Last year, New York passed laws requiring platforms to obtain parental consent before showing children “addictive feeds” and before collecting or selling the personal data of users under 18.

The new law, which state legislators passed back in June under the legislative bill identifier S4505/A5346, mandates mental health warnings on what it defines as “addictive social media platforms.” These are defined as platforms offering an addictive feed, push notifications, autoplay, infinite scroll, or like counts as a significant part of their services. However, an exception can be made if the attorney general determines those features are used for a valid purpose unrelated to prolonging use of the platform. Under the law, platforms must display warnings when a young user initially uses the “predatory feature” and periodically thereafter, and users will not be able to bypass them.

State officials framed the legislation as a public health necessity, comparing the warning labels to those found on tobacco, alcohol, and media with flashing lights. This comparison aligns with statements from Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, who said last year that social media platforms should add warning labels. Governor Hochul noted that keeping New Yorkers safe has been her top priority since taking office, which includes protecting children from the potential harms of social media features that encourage excessive use. Assemblymember and bill sponsor Nily Rozic added: “New York families deserve honesty about how social media platforms impact mental health. By requiring warning labels based on the latest medical research, this law puts public health first and finally gives us the tools we need to make informed decisions.”

This move follows a broader trend of state-level tech regulation. California lawmakers have proposed a similar bill to address platform design. Additionally, the warning label requirement is not Hochul’s only recent tech policy action; she also recently signed the AI safety-focused legislation known as the RAISE Act, marking another end-of-year regulatory action in New York.

Why it matters

This legislation represents a significant regulatory shift in how states approach platform design, moving beyond data privacy to mandate direct warnings about user engagement features.