Arkansas AG Tim Griffin Joins Bipartisan Effort to Mandate Social Media Warning Labels
Social media usage continues to spark concerns about its impact on the mental well-being of adolescents. Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin has joined forces with 41 other attorneys general to urge Congress to enact legislation requiring social media platforms to display a surgeon general’s warning. This cautionary alert, as proposed by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, would highlight the potential health risks associated with prolonged social media use.
The call for this legislative action stems from a recent study conducted by the surgeon general, which reveals serious mental health issues among young users, particularly those who spend over three hours daily on social media platforms. Griffin expressed strong concerns about the addictive nature of these platforms, citing the severe consequences they can have on the mental health of young individuals.
Arkansas was already at the forefront in addressing these concerns when it initiated lawsuits against TikTok and Meta in 2023, accusing the companies of misleading consumers and promoting addictive algorithms to minors. The current bipartisan initiative echoes this effort, with 45 states having either filed or joined similar legal actions.
The attorneys general leading this initiative include those from Colorado, Kentucky, New York, and Tennessee. Arkansas is among the states that signed the letter to Congress, joining a coalition that spans from Hawaii to Vermont.
A copy of the letter is available for public access, detailing the bipartisan effort to safeguard the mental health of the younger generation by promoting more responsible social media practices.
- Arkansas AG Tim Griffin joins 41 other attorneys general in calling for a congressional mandate on social media warning labels.
- The U.S. surgeon general’s report highlights the substantial health risks associated with extended social media usage by adolescents.
- Arkansas was one of the early states to initiate lawsuits against social media platforms for promoting addictive algorithms to minors.
