AG Henry backs Surgeon General’s warning on social media

Attorney General Michelle Henry has joined a coalition of 42 state attorneys general urging Congress to require a Surgeon General’s warning on social media platforms that have proven to be addictive and harmful to children.

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy has proposed warning labels that outline the significant mental health risks that social media presents to adolescents.

“By design, social media has the ability to take over the lives and psyche of our young people, and my office has made it a top priority to stand up to companies who are profiting from practices that harm kids,” Henry said. “I proudly stand with Surgeon General Murthy and the other attorneys general committed to minimizing dangers of social media that can cause depression, sleep deprivation, anxiety, and numerous other complications.”

Henry had previously advocated for more oversight of social media platforms by filing legal action against social media company Meta, which operates Facebook and Instagram, for subjecting users to what she described as “manipulative, damaging content, and for failure to protect users from account takeovers.”

During the 2023-24 school year, Henry visited school districts across the Commonwealth for discussions with students about impacts of gun violence on their mental health and overall well-being. According to her announcement, many students claimed social media played a role in acts of violence. In June of this year, the Office of Attorney General released its findings from these discussions in a report.

Additionally, the Office of Attorney General coordinates the Safe2Say Something program, which offers students (and anyone else) a platform to anonymously report threats and concerns about violence and bullying. Data collected from Safe2Say reporting shows social media often plays a significant role in those incidents.