In a letter to Congress, V.I. Attorney General Nominee Gordon C. Rhea and 41 other attorneys general have called on lawmakers to pass legislation requiring a U.S. surgeon general warning on all algorithm-driven social media platforms. The letter comes amidst growing scrutiny of social media companies for their role in generational harm to young people’s mental health.
The attorneys general cited growing bodies of research that link young people’s use of these platforms to psychological harm, including depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts in children and teens, the V.I. Justice Department said in a news release announcing the effort.
They also note how platforms feature irresistible algorithmic recommendations, infinite scrolling, and a constant stream of notifications designed to keep young people relentlessly engaged on the platforms, even at the expense of taking breaks, engaging in other activities, or sleeping, it said.
“As these platforms increasingly shape the lives of our youth, it is imperative that we hold them accountable and implement measures to protect the well-being of future generations. This call to action reflects our deep concern over the escalating impact of social media on the mental health of young people, and we believe that such a warning is a crucial step toward safeguarding our youth from harm,” said Rhea.
States have already taken historic action to hold platforms accountable for the harm they have caused young people. Last year, 45 states and the District of Columbia brought lawsuits against Meta (formerly named Facebook), and many states are either investigating or actively suing TikTok in state court, the release noted.
Despite these efforts to address the harm caused by social media platforms, the attorneys general say the need for federal action is clear, it said.
“[A] surgeon general’s warning on social media platforms, though not sufficient to address the full scope of the problem, would be one consequential step toward mitigating the risk of harm to youth. A warning would not only highlight the inherent risks that social media platforms presently pose for young people, but also complement other efforts to spur attention, research, and investment into the oversight of social media platforms,” the letter states.
The attorneys general say more action is necessary because “social media platforms have demonstrated an unwillingness to fix the problem on their own.” The attorneys general from California, Colorado, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, and Tennessee co-led the letter to Congress, which was delivered on Monday.
In addition to the U.S. Virgin Islands, joining them are the attorneys general from Alabama, American Samoa, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Read the letter by the attorneys generals here.
