COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan bill that would require social media platforms deemed “addictive” to display warning labels when users open their apps or websites, citing growing concerns about mental health impacts linked to online use.
Under the proposed legislation, companies operating platforms with features designed to increase engagement — such as endless scrolling, autoplay videos or algorithmic content feeds — would need to display a prominent message alerting users to potential mental health risks.
Supporters say the bill aims to mirror longstanding warning label policies found in industries like tobacco and alcohol, arguing that social media now poses comparable public health risks for minors.
“This is about transparency and accountability,” said Rep. Jessica Morgan, D-Lakewood, a lead sponsor of the measure. “Young people are spending hours a day on platforms engineered to keep them hooked, and parents deserve to know what the research is showing.”
The measure comes after several high-profile court rulings across the country that have held major tech companies partly responsible for mental health harms among teens. Those cases have fueled a national debate over whether social media platforms should face stricter regulation, especially regarding design features linked to compulsive use.
Sen. Mark Hollister, R-Newark, who co-sponsored the bill in the Ohio Senate, said the proposal is not intended to censor content but to inform consumers. “We’re not telling people what to post or who to follow,” Hollister said. “We’re saying the companies that profit from addictive design should at least warn users about what that means.”
Tech industry representatives have pushed back against similar efforts in other states, arguing that mandatory warning labels could violate free speech protections and oversimplify complex issues surrounding social media use.
If approved, the Ohio Department of Health would work with independent researchers to define what constitutes an “addictive” platform and determine the exact language of the warning label. Violations could lead to civil penalties for companies that refuse to comply.
The bill is expected to face committee hearings in the coming weeks.