California Mandates Mental Health Warning Labels on Social Media Platforms

13 Oct, 2025

By Eli Sachs

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law Monday Assembly Bill 56, legislation that mandates social media platforms display health warning labels to users under 18, making California the second state in the nation to require such measures after Minnesota enacted similar protections in July. The law, which takes effect January 1, 2027, positions California at the forefront of a growing national movement to address the mental health crisis linked to youth social media use.​

Chatbots and social media can inspire, educate, and connect, but they can also exploit, mislead, and endanger our kids.

That's why I'm signing legislation to strengthen the state's current protections for children online and create safeguards for emerging technology like AI.

— Governor Gavin Newsom (@CAgovernor) October 13, 2025

AB 56, authored by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, requires platforms including Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok to display black box warnings stating that social media "can have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents". The language is drawn from a 2023 report by former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, who first popularized the concept of social media warning labels in a 2024 op-ed comparing the technology's addictive design to tobacco.​

Platforms must show a skippable 10-second warning when a child first logs on each day, covering at least a quarter of the screen. After three hours of cumulative active use, an unskippable 30-second warning must appear, occupying 75% of the screen, and must repeat at least once per hour thereafter.​

"Every parent understands the detrimental effects that social media addiction can have on their children—such as isolation, stress, anxiety, and countless hours squandered late at night. Through this legislation, California is working to shield children and teens from intentionally crafted features that promote these harmful behaviors."
— Gov. Gavin Newsom​

The legislation responds to mounting research evidence linking social media use to serious mental health harms in young people. A growing body of research associates adolescent social media use with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, with adolescents spending more than three hours daily on social media facing double the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes.​

Attorney General Rob Bonta emphasized the urgency of the legislation during a press conference, stating that social media companies are "aware of the detrimental effects their products can have on our children, yet they refuse to implement significant changes to ensure their safety".​

"Today, California makes clear that we will not sit and wait for companies to decide to prioritize children's well-being over their profits. By adding warning labels to social media platforms, AB 56 gives California a new tool to protect our children."
— Attorney General Rob Bonta​

California's ongoing lawsuits against Meta and TikTok allege that these social media giants intentionally design their platforms to addict young people to their mental and physical detriment for profit.​

The new law faces expected legal challenges from tech industry groups representing companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon. TechNet, a trade association for major technology firms, opposed the bill during the legislative process, arguing it would impose a "government mandated label on user-generated speech," raising First Amendment concerns.​

Industry representatives claim the warning labels restrict children's access to online speech and illegally compel social media platforms to make controversial claims about technology's health impacts. Newsom acknowledged that his decision "could quickly drag California into another court fight with tech giants".​

AB 56 is part of a comprehensive legislative package Newsom signed Monday to strengthen online child safety protections. Additional measures include age verification requirements for app stores and online platforms, effective January 1, 2027, though Newsom noted that streaming services and video game developers have raised concerns requiring legislative attention before the implementation date.​

Newsom also signed S.B. 243, which regulates AI chatbot interactions with minors. The law requires developers of "companion chatbots" to establish protocols preventing content generation related to suicide or self-harm, mandates redirection to crisis support services when necessary, and requires clear disclosure that users are interacting with artificial intelligence rather than humans.​

"Emerging technology like chatbots and social media can inspire, educate and connect—but without real guardrails, technology can also exploit, mislead, and endanger our kids. We cannot allow companies to operate without necessary restrictions."
— Gov. Gavin Newsom​

The California legislation follows former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy's call for Congress to mandate warning labels on social media platforms. At least 42 state attorneys general, including Bonta, have endorsed this proposal, arguing that mandating surgeon general warnings on algorithm-driven platforms could help address the youth mental health crisis and protect future generations.​

California first partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom added her voice to the chorus of support, stating, "Our kids deserve a world that values them more than the technology around them".​

Assemblymember Bauer-Kahan indicated the legislative effort remains ongoing despite the law's passage: "While I'm grateful Governor Newsom signed AB 56, our work isn't finished. California's children deserve both transparency about social media's harms and accountability when platforms cause damage. I'll continue working with Attorney General Bonta and my colleagues to ensure comprehensive protections become law".​

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