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Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →New York’s law requiring warnings on certain social media features takes effect January 1, 2027. It calls for a short warning the first time a user accesses a covered feature each day, followed by longer, more prominent warnings after three hours of cumulative active use and at least once an hour after that. The law recognizes potential benefits for some young users while warning that excessive use may be associated with mental-health harms.
What does New York’s social media warning label law require?
New York General Business Law Article 45-A requires a covered platform operator to display a warning when a covered user accesses or uses an “addictive feature.” The statute sets the warning text and how it must appear; the obligation does not mean that every social media platform or every kind of social media use is covered. New York General Business Law § 1521 and § 1522 contain the label and display rules.
The governor’s December 26, 2025 announcement names addictive feeds, autoplay, and infinite scroll as examples of features addressed by the law. That is an announcement-level summary, not a complete definition or coverage test. The statute’s definitions, exceptions, scope, and enforcement provisions are in Article 45-A, including §§ 1520 and 1523–1526. Governor Kathy Hochul’s announcement provides the examples; the full article controls the legal details.
What will the warning say and how will it appear?
New York’s statute sets this exact warning text: “The Surgeon General has warned that while social media may have benefits for some young users, excessive use may be associated with significant mental health harms.” This is wording enacted by the state. Its reference to the Surgeon General is part of the state-mandated label and should not be mistaken for a separately verified verbatim quotation from a named Surgeon General. Section 1521 contains the text.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match| Trigger | Required display |
|---|---|
| First access on a calendar day, when an addictive feature is provided | Clearly and continuously for at least 10 seconds; no bypass or click-through; at least 25% of the screen or window. |
| After three hours of cumulative active use, and thereafter at least once per hour of cumulative active use | Clearly and continuously for at least 30 seconds; no bypass or click-through; at least 75% of the screen. |
The statute also bars showing the warning only in the platform’s terms of service. Operators may not obscure its prominence or use a design feature or mechanism intended to inhibit or subvert the law’s purpose. These mechanics are set out in § 1522.
When do New York’s social media warning labels start?
The current codified sections state that the requirements take effect January 1, 2027. That date is in the future as of October 8, 2026. Check the current text of § 1521 and § 1522 for the enacted effective date.
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Readers may encounter descriptions of the introduced 2025 bill, S4505, that give a different process: it proposed that commissioners determine warning text and timing, and tied its effective date to 180 days after necessary Attorney General rules. Those were introduced-bill provisions, not the current codified requirements. The introduced S4505 text is legislative history; use the current statute for the requirements now enacted.
What does the public-health evidence say—and not say?
The U.S. Surgeon General’s 2023 advisory summary presents figures on young people’s social media use and potential harms. It reports that up to 95% of U.S. young people aged 13–17 use a social media platform; nearly two-thirds of teenagers use social media every day; and one-third use it “almost constantly.” It also reports an average of 3.5 hours per day among teenagers and that 46% of adolescents aged 13–17 said social media makes them feel worse about their body image. These are figures as reported in the advisory summary, which identifies underlying studies. The HHS summary of the Surgeon General’s 2023 advisory gives the figures and citations.
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The advisory summary also says young people who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of mental-health problems, including depression and anxiety symptoms. That finding is reported as an association; it does not establish that social media use causes a particular person’s condition. The advisory says important gaps in understanding remain, that it cannot conclude social media is sufficiently safe for children and adolescents, and that social media may also provide benefits.
These figures are useful context for why lawmakers may focus on heavy use, but they are not proof that every user is harmed or that the features named in the governor’s announcement cause a specific outcome. The warning itself uses qualified language—“may be associated”—and acknowledges possible benefits for some young users.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What lawmakers say about the law
Governor Kathy Hochul said, “New Yorkers deserve transparency,” and described the law as a response to potential harms from features that encourage excessive use. Assemblymember Nily Rozic said, “New York families deserve honesty about how social media platforms impact mental health.” These are policymakers’ explanations for the law, not independent medical findings. The governor’s signing announcement attributes both statements.
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