Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta and New York Attorney General Letitia James have jointly addressed the pressing issue of social media addiction in an op-ed published in USA Today. The article highlights their commitment to protecting children's mental health in the face of harmful practices by social media companies.

The attorneys general emphasized their duty to defend state laws and the well-being of their constituents, stating, "As state attorney generals, we have two primary duties: defending our states’ laws and interests, and protecting the rights and well-being of the people we were elected to serve."

Expressing concern over the detrimental effects of social media addiction on children, they declared, "We will not stand by and watch an arms race among social media mega-corporations over who can best profit from our children’s pain and addiction."

In their collaborative efforts, Bonta and James are utilizing all available tools to combat harmful practices, from legal measures in the courthouse to legislative actions in the statehouse. They emphasized their support for legislation aimed at addressing addictive feeds and protecting children's personal information.

Acknowledging the challenges posed by powerful tech companies, the attorneys general underscored the importance of safeguarding the mental health of the younger generation. They asserted, "Curbing the excesses of some of the world’s most powerful and influential companies will not be easy. But the formative mental health of a generation is at stake, and we cannot afford to stand idly by and not respond."

Drawing on their past successes in addressing threats to public health and safety, Bonta and James expressed confidence in their ability to protect children from the harmful impacts of social media. They stated, "We’ve stepped up before as attorneys general to address a rising threat to the health and safety of our constituents. With the support and courage of our colleagues in our states’ legislatures, we know that we will succeed, and that children will finally be protected against the most insidious harms of social media."

In conclusion, the joint efforts of California's Attorney General Rob Bonta and New York's Attorney General Letitia James signal a united front in the fight against social media addiction and its detrimental effects on children's mental health.