HF1289

This Minnesota House bill (H.F. No. 1289), authored by Representatives Stephenson and Robbins, proposes new consumer protection regulations for social media platforms. The key provisions of the bill include:

1. Mental Health Warning Label:

   • Social media platforms must display a conspicuous mental health warning label every time a user accesses the platform.
     
   • The label should only disappear if the user either exits the platform or acknowledges the potential harm and chooses to proceed.
     
   • The warning must inform users of possible negative mental health effects and provide access to mental health resources, including the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
     
   • Platforms cannot hide the warning in terms and conditions, add unnecessary information that reduces its prominence, or allow users to disable it.
     

2. Popup Timer Notification:

   • Platforms must display a popup notification at least every 30 minutes of active use, informing the user of their usage time.
     
   • The popup must also inform the user of their total daily usage time and only disappear once acknowledged.
     
   • Users may be allowed to customize the notification frequency, but the maximum interval cannot exceed 60 minutes.
     

3. Regulatory Oversight:

   • The Minnesota Commissioner of Health, in consultation with the Commissioner of Commerce, will establish guidelines for warning labels based on current research on social media’s mental health impacts.
     
   • These guidelines will be reviewed and revised as necessary.
     

The bill aims to mitigate social media’s potential negative effects on mental health by increasing user awareness and encouraging mindful usage.