HONOLULU (KHON2) — As social media grows amongst our youth, officials from Hawaii and other states across the nation called on congressional lawmakers, urging warning labels for social media.
Attorney General Anne Lopez and attorneys general from 14 other states are asking for “a U.S. Surgeon General warning on all algorithm-driven social media platforms” to protect young people’s mental health.
To bring the situation to light, some states have taken action into their own hands to hold social media platforms accountable for the harm caused to young people.
“We believe that issuing warning labels pursuant to the U.S. Surgeon General’s recommendation is an important step toward protecting our keiki from the risks and harms posed by social media platforms,” Christopher Han, a deputy attorney general with the Department of the Attorney General’s Commerce and Economic Development Division said.
In the letter, research links depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts to these social media platforms.
According to reports, many states and the District of Columbia have either brought lawsuits, are investigating or actively suing major platforms such as Meta and TikTok in state courts.
Despite all efforts, the attorneys general emphasized the need for federal action to squash this generational harm.
“We are hopeful that Congress recognizes this growing crisis and will enact legislation to address this issue soon,” Han added.
The attorneys general hope proper action will be taken, as “social media platforms have demonstrated an unwillingness to fix the problem on their own.”
To view the entire letter, visit the National Association of Attorneys General’s website.