Social Media Gets Health Warnings Like Tobacco Products In Minnesota

Minnesota will become the first state to require warning labels for social media sites and apps. It's similar to the Surgeon General Warnings that were required by law to be put on tobacco products because of the serious health risks.

Experts say that the evidence is clear that social media use is linked with depression, anxiety, loneliness, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and other mental health issues.

Former Surgeon General Calls For Warning Labels

Former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has called for warning labels to be put on social media sites. Research proves that prolonged social media use can cause mental harm, higher rates of eating disorders, and body image issues in children and teens.

Similar To Alcohol & Tobacco Warning Labels

The labels are much like warning labels for cigarettes and alcohol. It's to let the public know the risks of consuming the product, which can be addictive. Representative Zack Stephenson told MPR that social media is addictive, much like tobacco products.

“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,” Stephenson said.

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What Will It Look Like + When Will the Warning Take Place?

The Minnesota Department of Health will provide the messaging required by law to social media companies. Starting in July 2026, users will have to acknowledge the pop-up warning and click through to continue to the site.

The hope is that the warning will give users a second to think about their social media use, and to maybe not open the site. Think of how often you just instinctively click on your social media site and then waste 10 minutes or more scrolling. The hope is that the warning label will reduce social media usage.

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