COLUMBIA, S.C. — A prefiled bill at the South Carolina State House would require social media companies to show public service announcements warning children and teens about the mental health risks of excessive social media use.
Supporters of the bill say research shows social media can have long-term impacts on young people’s mental health. The legislation would require the messages to appear directly within social media apps, similar to cigarette warning labels.
“The research is very clear that excessive social media use impacts boys and girls,” said Kimberly Long with Mothers Against Media Addiction. “With the PSA bill, that stream of negative videos and negative content will be interrupted periodically to hopefully break any kind of cycle that promotes heightened rates of depression, or, in worst cases, self-harm.”…