“As a senator, but more importantly, as a dad to three young kids, I feel a duty to address how dangerous unchecked social media use can be for our mental health.”
Washington, D.C. – On May 22, 2025, U.S. Senators John Fetterman (D-PA) and Katie Britt (R-AL) reintroduced the bipartisan Stop the Scroll Act, legislation that would require social media platforms to display clear mental health warning labels to users. The bill, introduced during Mental Health Awareness Month, aims to raise awareness of the well-documented risks social media poses to mental health and help connect people—especially kids and teens—with the resources they need. The senators have been building support for the bill since last year, adding two new cosponsors this week.
“As a senator, but more importantly, as a dad to three young kids, I feel a duty to address how dangerous unchecked social media use can be for our mental health. I’ve experienced it in my own life, and the evidence is right in front of us – addiction, anxiety, depression, and suicide rates are on the rise, and it’s directly linked to these platforms,” said Senator Fetterman. “I’m proud to partner with Senator Britt to reintroduce the Stop the Scroll Act so our laws catch up to the reality we find ourselves in. By providing resources to people experiencing mental health crises due to social media, it will ensure all Americans can access the help they need.”
“Senator Fetterman and I are taking action during Mental Health Awareness Month on an issue that’s directly correlated to our nation’s deteriorating mental health – the rise of social media. The Stop the Scroll Act follows through on the Surgeon General’s call last year to create a warning label for social media platforms,” said Senator Britt.“Knowing how critical it is to provide help to individuals struggling with the challenges of social media, we also require the warning label to point users to mental health resources. Equipped with the knowledge of the dangers and empowered with the resources to address it, this simple solution will help parents and kids thrive.”
The Stop the Scroll Act would require the Surgeon General to create a standardized mental health warning label for social media platforms, which the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) would enforce. The label would appear in a pop-up format each time a user opens the app or site, with language warning of the potential mental health harms associated with extended use. Users would have to acknowledge the warning before proceeding. The warning could not be obscured, altered, or hidden in any way.
The bill also mandates that the warning label direct users to mental health resources, ensuring that anyone struggling has a direct path to support.
Senator Fetterman has repeatedly sounded the alarm about the mental health crisis in America, especially among teenagers. Last year, the Surgeon General issued anadvisory warning that social media can pose a “profound risk of harm” to youth mental health. In Pennsylvania and across the country, rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide among adolescents have risen sharply—and experts agree that social media is playing a major role.
Fetterman first introduced the Stop the Scroll Act last Congress and has partnered with Senator Britt on the bipartisan effort. Together, they appeared on Common Ground with Bret Baier to discuss the need for urgent action. Research shows that the average teen spends around five hours a day on social media, and those who spend the most time online are more likely to report poor mental health outcomes.
The Stop the Scroll Act builds on Senator Fetterman’s broader commitment to supporting mental health access, reducing stigma, and holding powerful corporations accountable when their business models harm the public.
The full text of the bill is available here.
