New York has taken a pioneering step in regulating social media’s impact on young users amid escalating concerns over digital addiction and mental health. On December 26, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation (S4505/A5346) requiring platforms with “addictive” features—such as infinite scrolling, auto-play videos, algorithmic feeds, like counts, and push notifications—to display prominent warning labels. Modeled after health alerts on tobacco products warning of cancer risks or plastic bags cautioning suffocation hazards, these labels aim to inform users, particularly minors, of potential harms like increased anxiety, depression, and compulsive behavior. The law builds on growing evidence, including U.S. Surgeon General advisories and studies showing adolescents spending over three hours daily on social media face double the risk of poor mental health outcomes.
Details of the New Legislation The warnings, designed by the Commissioner of Mental Health based on peer-reviewed research, must appear when young users first engage the features and periodically thereafter, without allowing easy bypass. Enforcement falls to the Attorney General, who can impose civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation. The law applies to conduct within New York but exempts access from outside the state. Platforms like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, and Facebook are directly affected, though major companies have not yet commented publicly.
Broader Context and Implications This measure aligns New York with states like California and Minnesota pursuing similar protections, while echoing global actions such as Australia’s recent under-16 social media ban. Supporters, including sponsors Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assemblymember Nily Rozic, emphasize transparency and public health priority. Hochul stated, “Keeping New Yorkers safe… includes protecting our kids from the potential harms of social media features that encourage excessive use.” As youth mental health crises intensify—with links to body image issues and isolation—the law could set a precedent, prompting federal action or industry changes, though potential compliance challenges and legal debates loom.