HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – 42 U.S. Attorneys General have called on lawmakers to require warnings on social media platformsout of concern for the mental health of young people. In response, several community members shared their thoughts.

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares is one of 42 signatories to a letter urging lawmakers to require a surgeon general warning on all algorithm-based social media platforms, amid concerns about anxiety increasing depression, suicidal thoughts and technology addiction among children and adolescents. The group also said the platforms use irresistible algorithms, notifications and infinite scrolling to keep kids hooked.

Chelsea Spillner is an eighth grade social studies teacher and she has seen the negative impact of social media on her students. Excessive use of social media causes daily disruptions in his classroom.

“It definitely has an impact on their mental health. They are less focused, they are more interested in what is happening on social media and they use Snapchat,” Spillner said. “I catch a lot of my students communicating on Snapchat.”

Spillner supports the call for new legislation in hopes that it will reduce technological dependence. She added that many parents may not know how often their children are online.

“They deal with it all the time at school. They are always searching; they’re still on it,” Spillner said. “They’re probably into it a lot more than their parents realize.”

As a social worker, Emily Johnson frequently handles social media cases. She said social media has created a new set of problems for children.

“This has contributed to very significant rates of bullying that can continue beyond the time children leave school at the end of the day,” Johnson said. “There should at least be warnings. I think parents need to be able to be more involved in selecting a child’s privacy settings, as well as viewing suggestions on TikTok and Instagram Reels.

Meanwhile, some parents, like John Cornell, don’t think a warning is very effective in the long run. Both Cornell girls use social media daily.

“What is a social media strike? It’s like putting a warning on cigarettes,” Cornell said. “We know it’s not good, but it’s their world.”

Although their children aren’t even old enough to read, Katy and Robert Yanks worry about the future of their baby and toddler. Social networks are a frequent conversation between couples.

“Middle and high school are hard enough. Also add social media, it seems a little scary,” Katy Yanks said.

Robert Yanks was quick to agree, sharing the same concerns as his wife.

“Social seems to be a pretty negative space these days. Trying to protect our children from this is a priority for us going forward,” Robert Yanks said.

Both agree that the proposed legislation is necessary, but long overdue.

“I think this was supposed to happen a long time ago. I don’t think legislation can keep up with technology,” said Katy Yanks.

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