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Minnesota lawmakers, families push bill for warning labels and 30‑minute timers on social media
Summary
A bill introduced by state legislators would require social media platforms to display warning labels and show pop-up timers every 30 minutes; parents who lost children to fentanyl-linked purchases on apps and suicide-prevention advocates urged action at a Capitol briefing.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — State lawmakers and family advocates on Monday outlined legislation that would require warning labels on social media platforms and mandate pop-up notifications every 30 minutes telling users how long they have been on the service.
Representative Zach Stephenson, who identified himself as a DFL member from Anoka and Coon Rapids and chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, said the bill implements a recommendation from the U.S. Surgeon General and aims to reduce the platforms' harms on young people. “The evidence is clear. Social media has a significant negative impact on mental health, particularly among kids,” Stephenson said.
The proposal would pair warning labels with a timer that generates a pop-up notification every 30 minutes to inform users of cumulative time spent on the platform. Supporters compared the approach to consumer warnings on tobacco and to “are you still watching?” interruptions used by streaming services to curb prolonged use.
Why it matters: Advocates and lawmakers argued that…
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