Breaking News: Oklahoma AG Drummond joins 41 other states demanding Surgeon General warning on social media sites

OKLAHOMA CITY (Sept. 10, 2024) – In a significant move, Attorney General Gentner Drummond, along with 41 other attorneys general, has urged Congress to mandate a U.S. surgeon general warning on all algorithm-driven social media platforms. This call to action comes amid increasing scrutiny of social media companies for their impact on young people’s mental health.

The attorneys general highlighted research linking social media use to psychological issues such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts among children and teens. They pointed out that features like algorithmic recommendations, infinite scrolling, and constant notifications are designed to keep users, especially young ones, perpetually engaged, often at the expense of other activities and sleep.

Drummond emphasized the need for such warnings to highlight the adverse effects of social media on youth. “American children are in the throes of a mental health crisis. While social media addiction is not the sole culprit, it is a significant factor,” Drummond stated. “Parents and young people deserve to be fully informed of the situation.”

Last October, Drummond filed a lawsuit against Meta for allegedly designing harmful features on Instagram, Facebook, and other platforms. Oklahoma is also part of a broader investigation into whether TikTok intentionally made its platform more addictive for young users.

Despite these efforts, the attorneys general argue that more action is needed, as social media platforms have shown an unwillingness to address the problem independently.

The letter is co-signed by attorneys general from states and territories including Alabama, Arkansas, California, Florida, New York, and Texas, among others.