New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a bill this week mandating social media platforms to display warning labels for younger users before they encounter features like autoplay and infinite scrolling. The bill, identified as S4505A5346, was approved by state legislators in June and focuses on platforms deemed "addictive," characterized by features such as addictive feeds, push notifications, autoplay, infinite scroll, and like counts as central components of their services.
The legislation allows for exceptions if the attorney general determines these features serve a valid purpose unrelated to extending platform usage. According to Hochul's office, the platforms will be required to show warnings upon a young user's initial exposure to these features and periodically afterward, with no option to bypass the alerts. The announcement drew parallels between the proposed warning labels and those found on products like tobacco, alcohol, and media containing flashing lights.
The warning labels are intended to address concerns raised by experts, including former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, who last year advocated for social media platforms to implement such warnings. The aim is to mitigate potential mental health risks associated with prolonged social media use among young people.
The bill defines "young users" as individuals under a certain age, though the specific age threshold and the exact wording of the warning labels will be determined through subsequent rulemaking processes. The law tasks the state's attorney general with establishing the specific criteria for what constitutes an "addictive" platform and for granting exceptions based on valid usage.
The tech industry's response to the new law remains to be seen. Some industry analysts suggest that platforms may need to redesign certain features or implement stricter age verification measures to comply. The law's impact on user engagement and advertising revenue is also a subject of speculation.
The next step involves the attorney general's office developing the specific regulations and guidelines for implementing the warning labels. This process will likely involve consultations with experts, stakeholders, and the social media platforms themselves. The timeline for the full implementation of the law and the appearance of warning labels on social media platforms is yet to be determined.
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