California aims to protect kids with social media warning labels

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

WHILE IT’S NORMAL TO SEE WARNING LABELS ON PRODUCTS LIKE TOBACCO, ALCOHOL AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS… A NEW PROPOSAL COULD ACTUALLY PUT THEM ON A SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNT

A BILL INTRODUCED MONDAY IN THE CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE WOULD MAKE IT THE FIRST STATE TO MANDATE MENTAL HEALTH WARNING LABELS ON SOCIAL MEDIA SITES.

SUPPORTERS OF THE PROPOSAL SAYS IT’S NEEDED TO PROTECT CHILDREN’S ONLINE SAFETY AND STOP SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES FROM VIEWING KIDS AS A “COMMODITY.”

VICTORIA HINKS, WHOSE 16-YEAR-OLD DAUGHER DIED BY SUICIDE, AFTER HINKS SAYS SHE WAS “LED DOWN DARK RABBIT HOLES” ON SOCIAL MEDIA GLORIFYING EATING DISORDERS AND PROMOTING SELF HARM, SUPPORTS THE BILL.

SHE SAYS THE WARNINGS WOULD PROTECT KIDS FROM SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANIES THAT IGNORE THE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS LINKED TO THEIR PRODUCTS.

BIG TECH IS VOWING TO FIGHT THE MEASURE.

ARGUING THE RULE VIOLATES THE FIRST AMENDMENT ON THE GROUNDS IT’S “COMPELLED SPEECH.”

INDUSTRY OFFICIALS CONTEND LAWMAKERS SHOULD PUT THEIR EFFORTS TOWARD ONLINE EDUCATION AND MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES.

STATE LAWMAKERS HAVEN’T GIVEN SPECIFICS ON THE BILL BUT SAY THE WARNINGS COULD POP UP ONCE A WEEK.

CALIFORNIA’S PAST EFFORTS TO TAKE ON BIG TECH INVOLVED THE STATE SUING META, THE PARENT COMPANY OF FACEBOOK LAST YEAR, AND TIKTOK IN OCTOBER.

ACCUSING THE COMPANIES OF CREATING ADDICTIVE FEATURES THAT KEEP CHILDREN OBSESSED WITH THEIR PLATFORMS.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.