Ohio bill would require warning labels on 'addictive' social media platforms

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Bipartisan legislation proposed in Ohio would require social media companies to display warning labels when users access platforms deemed “addictive.”

House Bill 808, introduced on April 1 by Reps. Christine Cockley (D-Columbus) and Jodi Salvo (R-Bolivar) along with 13 co-sponsors from both parties, seeks to regulate certain design features commonly used by social media platforms — like algorithm-driven feeds, autoplay videos, push notifications, infinite scroll and visible “like” counts — by classifying them as elements of an “addictive social media platform.”

Under the proposal, companies operating such platforms would be prohibited from making them available to Ohio users unless a state-designed warning label is displayed each time a user accesses the service. The bill defines an “addictive feed” as content that is recommended or prioritized based on user data or behavior, such as past interactions.

If enacted, the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health would be responsible for developing the warning label. The agency’s director, in consultation with the state departments of heath and education and workforce, would base the label’s content on available medical and sociological research.

The bill outlines a range of factors for consideration, including potential links between prolonged social media use and anxiety, depression, body dysmorphia, disruptions in sleep patterns, along with changes in attention span, memory formation and cognitive development, particularly among minors.

State officials would also determine how and when the warning label appears, including its frequency and duration, with the authority to update the language annually as research emerges.

The legislation prohibits companies from obscuring or minimizing the visibility of the warning label or placing it solely within terms of service agreements. It also bars companies from degrading service quality or increasing costs in response to compliance requirements.

Enforcement authority would fall to the Ohio attorney general, would could seek civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation, along with restitution, disgorgement of profits and injunctive relief. The bill also calls for the creation of a public website where users can report suspected violations.

H.B. 808 will be assigned to a House committee, where it could receive hearings open for public testimony.