New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill this week mandating that social media platforms display warning labels to younger users before they encounter features like autoplay and infinite scrolling. The bill, S4505A5346, passed by state legislators in June, calls for mental health warnings on platforms deemed "addictive," defined as those heavily reliant on features such as addictive feeds, push notifications, autoplay, infinite scroll, and like counts.

According to an announcement from Hochul's office, these platforms must display warnings upon a young user's initial exposure to these features and periodically afterward. Users will not be able to bypass these warnings. The announcement drew a parallel between the proposed warning labels and those found on products like tobacco, alcohol, and media containing flashing lights.

The legislation allows for exceptions if the attorney general determines that these features are used for a valid purpose unrelated to prolonging platform use. The aim is to mitigate potential mental health risks associated with prolonged social media engagement among young people.

Then-Surgeon General Vivek Murthy advocated for social media platforms to incorporate warning labels last year, highlighting growing concerns about the impact of these platforms on youth mental health. The move by New York reflects a growing national dialogue about the responsibilities of social media companies in safeguarding younger users.

The specific wording of the warning labels and the exact implementation timeline are still under development. The New York Attorney General's office will likely play a key role in defining the specifics of the warnings and overseeing compliance. The law's impact on social media companies remains to be seen, but it could potentially lead to changes in how these platforms design and present features to younger audiences.