LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Over three dozen states agree that social media can be just as dangerous as alcohol and tobacco.
They may disagree about a lot of important issues but when it comes to social media and your children, attorneys general from 42 states, including Kentucky and Indiana, are asking lawmakers to require surgeon general warning labels on social media apps.
Deja Downey is a mother of three.
"My 11-year-old uses social media the most, preferably TikTok is the one she's really using," Downey said. "And I tell you, it's difficult."
Her 11-year-old daughter also uses social media to run an online business.
"She has a bracelet business, where she makes bracelets and curates based off the time of the year and different events is going on," she said.
But Downey helps manage the business and her daughter's time online.
"She's not allowed to roam free on there but we do monitor," Downey said. "But the goal is that she's able to use E-commerce to actually promote her business."
Recently, a bipartisan group of 42 attorneys general demanded Congress require Surgeon General warning labels on social media apps to help reduce addiction and mental health issues among the nation's youth.
Kentucky and Indiana's A-Gs are part of the effort.
Dr. Tanya Stockhammer is a psychologist and works with kids and teens across Metro Louisville and said in the last 20 years social media has been a gamechanger for families.
"I think we are talking about social media and just media use with almost every patient and family that we work with now, it's just embedded in our lives," Stockhammer said.
Some states have already taken legal action against social media companies like Meta and TikTok but now they're asking lawmakers to alert people about the potential dangers of social media.
"I actually think anytime there's something going on politically that causes us as parents to kind of think about what our kids and teens are doing," Stockhammer said. "That's a good thing."
Meanwhile, Downey will continue to do her own due diligence but supports the movement.
"I think it's very necessary because I think parents need to be more aware what their children are doing on social media," Downey said.
So far, Congress hasn't moved on the issue.
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