WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.) and John Fetterman (D-Pa.) have reintroduced the Stop the Scroll Act during Mental Health Awareness Month, aiming to raise awareness about the mental health effects of social media usage. The bipartisan legislation would require a mental health warning label on social media platforms and provide users with access to mental health resources.
The bill responds to a recommendation by the U.S. Surgeon General last year, which called for warning labels similar to those seen on tobacco products. If enacted, the legislation would direct the Surgeon General to develop the label, while the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) would oversee its implementation.
The warning would be displayed as a pop-up message when users open a social media platform. Users would need to acknowledge the warning before accessing the platform. The warning label could not be hidden or minimized and would include links to mental health resources.
Senator Britt emphasized the connection between increased social media use and declining mental health, particularly among young people. “Knowing how critical it is to provide help to individuals struggling with the challenges of social media, we also require the warning label to point users to mental health resources,” Britt said.
Senator Fetterman highlighted personal and parental concerns about the mental health consequences of prolonged social media use. “I feel a duty to address how dangerous unchecked social media use can be for our mental health,” he said. “This legislation ensures all Americans can access the help they need.”
This proposal complements other social media-related legislation backed by Senator Britt, including the Kids Off Social Media Act, which seeks to establish a minimum age of 13 for social media access and restrict algorithmic content targeting for users under 17.
Both Senators have voiced continued support for reforming how social media platforms interact with youth and for providing transparency and support to users affected by the digital landscape.
