In an acknowledgement of Mental Health Awareness Month, U.S. Senators Katie Britt and John Fetterman (R-PA) are reintroducing legislation to help protect Americans from the harmful effects of social media.
The Stop the Scroll Act, first introduced in September of 2024, would ensure that warning labels are placed on social media platforms explaining the negative effects of social media usage on mental health.
“Senator Fetterman and I are taking action during Mental Health Awareness Month on an issue that’s directly correlated to our nation’s deteriorating mental health – the rise of social media,” said Britt in a press statement.
“The Stop the Scroll Act follows through on the Surgeon General’s call last year to create a warning label for social media platforms.”
The lawmaker from Alabama believes the legislation will be of great benefit because it also provides social media users with a means to address mental health issues.
“Knowing how critical it is to provide help to individuals struggling with the challenges of social media, we also require the warning label to point users to mental health resources. Equipped with the knowledge of the dangers and empowered with the resources to address it, this simple solution will help parents and kids thrive.”
Senator Fetterman pointed to his duty as a father of three as the central reason for his sponsorship of the bill.
“I’ve experienced it in my own life, and the evidence is right in front of us – addiction, anxiety, depression, and suicide rates are on the rise, and it’s directly linked to these platforms,” Fetterman noted. “I’m proud to partner with Senator Britt to reintroduce the Stop the Scroll Act so our laws catch up to the reality we find ourselves in. By providing resources to people experiencing mental health crises due to social media, it will ensure all Americans can access the help they need.”
According to Britt, the Surgeon General recommended a warning label be placed on social media platforms last year. The Stop the Scroll Act would specifically require the Surgeon General to develop and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to implement a label that warns each user of the potential mental health impacts of accessing a respective social media platform.
The warning itself would appear in a pop-up box format after accessing a social media platform.
Each user would then need to acknowledge the potential mental health risks in order to proceed to use the platform.
The warning label could not be hidden or obscured, and its exact language would adhere to requirements established by the Surgeon General. Additionally, the label would provide an avenue for users to be connected with available mental health resources.
Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
