“As a Senator, but more importantly, as a dad to three young kids, I feel a duty to address how dangerous unchecked social media can be for our mental health.”
Washington, D.C. — Yesterday, U.S. Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Katie Britt (R-AL) introduced the Stop the Scroll Act, to create a mental health warning label requirement for social media platforms. This bipartisan legislation would ensure all users, especially children and teens, are aware of the potential mental health risks associated with social media use and have access to mental health resources. Senators Fetterman and Britt joined Brett Baier on Fox News to discuss the new legislation.
“As a Senator, but more importantly, as a dad to three young kids, I feel a duty to address how dangerous unchecked social media can be for our mental health. The evidence is right in front of us—addiction, anxiety, depression, and suicide are on the rise, and it’s directly tied to these platforms. Senator Britt and I are introducing the Stop the Scroll Act to make sure our laws catch up with the reality we are living in. This bill will help kids and parents alike take control of their social media use, not the other way around,” said Senator Fetterman.
“Every child deserves the chance to live their own personal American Dream, but our nation’s youth mental health crisis is getting in the way for far too many,” said Senator Britt. “With the Stop the Scroll Act, Senator Fetterman and I are following through on the Surgeon General’s call to create a warning label for social media platforms, but we’re going further by requiring the warning label to also point users to mental health resources. Equipped with the knowledge of the dangers and empowered with the resources to address it, this simple solution will help parents and kids thrive.”
Earlier this month, the attorneys general of 42 states and U.S. territories urged Congress to pass legislation proposed by Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, requiring official warnings on social media platforms.
The Stop the Scroll Act directly addresses this call to action by mandating that the Surgeon General design, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforce, a warning label system for social media platforms. The warning label, which would appear as a pop-up box upon opening a platform, would caution users about the potential mental health risks associated with social media use and include links to mental health resources. Users must acknowledge these warnings before proceeding to use the platform.
Background on Senator Fetterman’s Social Media Safety Efforts:
Senator Fetterman has previously shared how social media was as an “accelerant” for his depression following his Senate victory in 2022, an experience that has made him a leading voice in the push for online safety reform. He has since advocated for greater awareness of the mental health risks posed by social media. Fetterman played a critical role in advancing the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act, which was passed in July of this year. The legislation improves online privacy rights for minors and protects children from harmful online content such as bullying, violence, and exposure to dangerous material. Senator Fetterman’s efforts helped ensure that the bill couldn’t be weaponized to target vulnerable communities, like LGBTQ+ youth, by overzealous state actors.
Additionally, Fetterman co-sponsored the Eyes on the Board Act, which requires schools that receive federal broadband funding to block access to social media apps on school devices and networks. The legislation is designed to minimize distractions and help students focus on learning during school hours. He also supported the Kids Off Social Media Act,which sets a minimum age of 13 for social media use and bans the use of addictive algorithms targeting users under 17. Both bills address the growing mental health crisis among young people, particularly by tackling the harmful effects of algorithm-driven content that can fuel addiction, anxiety, and depression.
The full text of the bill can be viewed here.
The Senators joined Brett Baier to discuss the bill. Watch their conversation here.
