South Carolins Public Radio takes an interesting look at Minnesota’s plan for social media warnings…

At least a dozen states have tried to keep kids off social media with bills requiring apps to verify ages. But courts have blocked most of those attempts. So lawmakers in Minnesota tried something different. Next summer, Minnesotans of any age will see a mental health warning label when they log on. That is, unless tech companies block the new law. Here’s Minnesota Public Radio’s Dana Ferguson.

DANA FERGUSON, BYLINE: Imagine you’re getting ready to hop on your Instagram, Facebook or TikTok account. You hit the screen on your phone, and in seconds, you’re directed to the latest pictures, stories or posts. This time next year…

ZACK STEPHENSON: The only change is going to be that you’re going to see a message before you can interact with the app.

FERGUSON: State Representative Zack Stephenson wrote the new Minnesota law requiring social media companies to add warning labels, flagging risks of mental health harm from excessive use.

STEPHENSON: I think the evidence is very clear that social media use is linked with depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm, suicidal ideation, eating disorders, all sorts of terrible mental health conditions.

FERGUSON: The Democrat likens them to warnings for tobacco products.

STEPHENSON: So I believe you’ll see a message telling you that prolonged use of social media can lead to those outcomes.

FERGUSON: Former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for warning labels last year. He pointed to the research on prolonged social media use and mental health. Minnesota is the first state to require them, but New York may not be too far behind. Stephenson says the warnings could prompt some to spend less time scrolling.

STEPHENSON: If you had expected big tobacco to make cigarettes less addictive in the ’50s and ’60s, you would have been sorely mistaken. They would never have done that. Addiction was their business model, and the same thing is true for Big Tech.

You can see the full interview on their website.