(The Center Square) – Ohio U.S. Sen. Jon Husted is continuing his years-long push to protect young people from social media.
His latest effort includes joining a bipartisan push in Congress to require mental health warning labels on social media platforms.
Husted joined Sens. Jon Fetterman, D-Penn., and Katie Britt, R-Ala., as sponsors of the Stop the Scroll Act to label platforms with warnings of potential mental health risks that also direct users to mental health resources.
“As more and more children and teens use social media, a warning label should be prominently displayed highlighting the potential harms of using social media platforms,” said Husted. “The Stop the Scroll Act would help young people grasp the mental health risks that come with social media. I’ll continue to back solutions that prioritize the safety of our kids and communities.”
If passed, the legislation would require the surgeon general to develop a label that would appear in a pop-up box when a user opens a social media platform. Users would also have to acknowledge the potential risks.
The box would also point users to federal mental health resources, including the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Husted said children and teenagers spend about 3.5 hours a day on social media. A recent study from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said that more than three hours a day on social media increases the risk of depression and anxiety.
Last year, former President Joe Biden’s Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recommended warning labels for social media platforms.
Husted helped lead an Ohio effort over the past several years to require parental consent for minors to use social media.
A bill was eventually signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine but ruled unconstitutional in January 2024 just days before it was expected to take effect.
