WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 933

Relating to: requiring social media platforms to provide mental health warnings and providing a penalty.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Dianne Hesselbein and 6 co-sponsors

Wisconsin bill requiring social media platforms to display mental health warnings to users, failed passage in 2026.

Failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 933

Legislative bill overview

SB 933 would require social media platforms to display mental health warnings to users and establish penalties for non-compliance. The bill aims to address concerns about social media's potential negative effects on user mental health, particularly among younger users, by mandating disclosure warnings similar to those used for other products.

Why is this important

Social media use has been correlated with increased rates of anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues, especially among adolescents. This bill represents a policy approach to inform users about potential risks, though effectiveness depends on user attention to warnings and whether platforms comply meaningfully rather than superficially.

Potential points of contention

  • First Amendment concerns: Requiring specific warning language may face constitutional challenges regarding compelled speech and whether social media qualifies as a product requiring warnings
  • Vague enforcement mechanisms: The bill's penalty structure and how violations would be identified and prosecuted remain unclear, raising questions about practical implementation
  • Effectiveness debate: Critics argue mental health warnings alone don't change user behavior (similar to tobacco warnings), while supporters contend they increase awareness and accountability for platform design choices
  • Platform jurisdiction: Questions about whether Wisconsin can regulate national/global platforms and what "mental health warning" specifically entails

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.