New Measures Target Youth Screen Time and Online Harm
Governor Gavin Newsom has enacted a groundbreaking law mandating that social media platforms warn young users about the potential mental health effects of prolonged use. The legislation, which applies to major platforms including Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, is the first in the United States to require visible health warnings for minors.
Timed Alerts to Warn Teen Users
Under the new law, minors logging into social media will receive a 10-second skippable warning the first time they open an app each day. After three hours of activity, a 30-second unskippable message must appear, repeating every subsequent hour. These alerts will warn users that extended social media use can pose serious risks to mental well-being—a phrase derived from the U.S. Surgeon General’s official advisory.
Part of Broader Online Safety Reforms
The health warning rule is one element of a larger legislative effort to strengthen digital protections for children. Additional bills approved by the governor introduce stricter age verification requirements, regulate how artificial intelligence systems interact with minors, and penalize the creation or distribution of harmful deepfake content. With this new package, California aims to set a national benchmark for addressing the mental health challenges linked to social media.
