ST. PAUL – This afternoon, State Representative Zack Stephenson (DFL – Coon Rapids) and State Senator Alice Mann (DFL – Edina) announced bipartisan legislation amending the existing “Prohibiting Social Media Manipulation Act” to require a social media platform to show users an initial mental health warning label, as well as an occasional pop-up timer tracking their time spent on the social media website or app.
“As a doctor and a parent of young children, I have witnessed firsthand the negative impact social media can have on mental health, particularly in our young people,” said Sen. Mann. “This bill is an important step in protecting the well-being of Minnesotans. By requiring social media platforms to display mental health warnings and time usage reminders, we empower users to make more informed choices digitally. This bill would make a real difference in how people interact with social media.”
“The evidence is clear that unchecked social media is linked with poor mental health outcomes, especially among children,” said Rep. Stephenson. “As policymakers, we have a responsibility to address this growing crisis. This common-sense legislation is a crucial step toward fostering a healthier digital environment for all Minnesotans.”
“The exploitation and targeting of youth on social media is a clear and present danger that demands immediate action,” said Erich Mische, CEO of SAVE – Suicide Awareness Voices of Education and member of the KiDS: Keep It Digitally Safe Campaign. “Requiring warning labels on social media is a tangible step toward making it unmistakably clear to parents and youth that sextortion, sex trafficking, illegal drugs, and suicide are not rare occurrences—they are an every-second, every-minute, every-hour reality of these platforms.”
Bridgette Norring and Tabbatha Urbanski, two Minnesota mothers who tragically lost their children due to illegal drugs purchased online, attended the press conference to share their stories and advocate for stronger online protections, including warning labels, to safeguard youth.
The KiDS: Keep It Digitally Safe Campaign is a global initiative advocating for stronger protections for children and teens in the digital space. The campaign is soliciting ideas from youth, and others, on what warning labels on social media platforms might look like – and three winners of the campaign will win a $5,000, $3,000 or $2,000 educational scholarship. More information about submitting entries can be found at www.keepitdigitallysafe.org.
Last year, the U.S. Surgeon General called for social media platforms to have warning labels. In 2024, the legislature successfully passed legislation requiring social media companies to disclose when they conduct product experiments targeting kids, as well as my bill that barred children from working as social media influencers. This legislation is set to be heard by the Minnesota House Commerce Committee on Thursday, March 20, and aims to provide clear warnings about the risks associated with social media use for youth.
Learn more about Sen. Mann.
