This bill, introduced in the Minnesota House of Representatives, seeks to mandate consumer protection measures on social media platforms by requiring mental health warning labels and periodic timer notifications.

Key Provisions:

1. Mental Health Warning Label:

   • Social media platforms must display a conspicuous mental health warning label whenever a user accesses the platform.
     
   • The label can only disappear if the user either exits the platform or acknowledges the warning and chooses to proceed.
     
   • The warning must inform users of potential negative mental health effects and provide access to mental health resources, including the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
     
   • Platforms cannot bury this warning in their terms and conditions, include distracting information, or allow users to disable it.

2. Guidelines for the Label:

   • The Commissioner of Health, in consultation with the Commissioner of Commerce, must develop guidelines for these warning labels based on current research.
     
   • These guidelines will be reviewed and revised as needed.
     
   • The Commissioner of Health is exempt from Minnesota’s chapter 14 rulemaking process when implementing this provision.

3. Popup Timer Notifications:

   • Social media platforms must display a popup notification every 30 minutes while a user is actively using the platform.
     
   • The notification must:
     
     1. Inform the user about their active platform usage in that session.
        
     2. Display the total usage time for the day.
        
     3. Remain visible until the user acknowledges it.
        
   • Users can choose to deactivate the notification or customize the time period, but the maximum interval between notifications cannot exceed 60 minutes.

Objective:

This bill aims to enhance consumer protection by increasing awareness of the mental health risks associated with prolonged social media use and promoting responsible platform engagement.