California’s AB 56: New Social Media Warning Law Targets Youth Mental Health Risks

Effective January 1, 2027, California’s Assembly Bill 56 (AB 56)—the Social Media Health Warning Act—will require social media platforms to display health warnings to users under 18 about the mental health risks of social media use. Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 13, 2025, AB 56 makes California one of the first states, alongside Minnesota, to mandate such digital health disclosures.

The law targets “addictive feeds” on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube, requiring prominent, time-based warnings modeled after Surgeon General advisories. It also reflects a growing national effort to curb youth mental health harms associated with social media addiction.

While supported by child-safety advocates, tech industry groups have raised First Amendment concerns, arguing the law compels speech. Legal counsel and compliance teams should begin assessing whether their platforms qualify as “covered platforms” and prepare for implementation before the 2027 effective date.