WASHINGTON – Since taking office, Sen. Katie Britt has been committed to addressing the challenges and dangers posed by social media, especially concerning children.
Her efforts working with Senate Republicans and Democrats have addressed the challenges social media poses.
That bipartisan work continued today when Britt (R-Montgomery) and Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) introduced the “Stop the Scroll Act,” which would create a mental health warning label requirement for social media platforms.
As a Senator, but more importantly as a dad to three young kids, I feel a duty to address how dangerous unchecked social media can be for mental health. @SenKatieBritt and I are introducing the Stop the Scroll Act to make sure our laws catch up with the reality we’re living in. pic.twitter.com/oTymbXhMy4
— Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) September 24, 2024
The bipartisan legislation would ensure all users, especially adolescents, are aware of the potential mental health risks posed by social media usage and are provided access to mental health resources.
“Every child deserves the chance to live their own personal American Dream, but our nation’s youth mental health crisis is getting in the way for far too many,” said Britt. “With the Stop the Scroll Act, Senator Fetterman and I are following through on the Surgeon General’s call to create a warning label for social media platforms, but we’re going further by requiring the warning label to also 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.”
Like Britt, Fetterman (D-Pa.) is a parent and realizes the threat social media can be to the welfare and mental health of children.
“As a senator, but more importantly, as a dad to three young kids, I feel a duty to address how dangerous unchecked social media can be for our mental health,” he said. “The evidence is right in front of us — addiction, anxiety, depression, and suicide are on the rise, and it’s directly tied to these platforms. Senator Britt and I are introducing the Stop the Scroll Act to make sure our laws catch up with the reality we are living in.
“This bill will help kids and parents alike take control of their social media use, not the other way around.”
Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy recently recommended a warning label be placed on social media platforms. Britt and Fetterman’s “Stop the Scroll Act” would require the surgeon general to develop and Federal Trade Commission to implement a label that warns each user of potential mental health impacts of accessing a respective social media platform.
The warning would appear in a pop-up box format upon opening 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.
In addition to the “Stop the Scroll Act,” Britt cosponsored the “Children and Teen’s Online Privacy Protection Act” and “Kids Online Safety Act.” Britt also supports the “Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act,” which includes provisions from both COPPA and KOSA. The “Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act” will expand protections for kids, hold platforms accountable, and empower parents.
Britt, and Sens. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), as concerned parents, introduced the “Kids Off Social Media Act,” which would prevent kids under the age of 13 from creating a social media account —something social media companies already say they enforce; prohibit the use of algorithms on all social media users that are under the age of 17; and require schools to block and filter social media on their WIFI networks if they receive federal funding.
With Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Britt introduced the “Youth Mental Health Research Act,” which would create a national Youth Mental Health Research Initiative to guide long-term mental health care efforts and better target preventive interventions for those at risk of developing mental health challenges.
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