Social media: warning labels.

Assembly Members Bauer-Kahan and Wicks have proposed legislation requiring social media platforms to display prominent health warnings to users, building upon California's existing regulations on social media addiction. The measure would mandate that covered platforms show a black box warning when users first access the platform each day, after three hours of cumulative use, and at least hourly thereafter.

The warnings must occupy at least 25% of the screen upon initial daily access and remain visible for 10 seconds, though users can dismiss them via an "X" icon. Subsequent warnings must cover 75-100% of the screen and remain for 90 seconds without the option to bypass, except for users verified to be over 17 years old. The warning text, which can be modified by the Department of Public Health, states the Surgeon General's advisory on social media's association with mental health risks for young users.

The requirements apply to platforms meeting the state's definition of "addictive internet-based services" but exclude websites primarily focused on e-commerce, cloud storage, email, private messaging, or internal organizational communications. The bill specifies that displaying these warnings or user dismissal of them does not limit platforms' liability for claims beyond violations of the warning requirements themselves.