A technology industry trade group, NetChoice, has filed a lawsuit against the State of New York, seeking to block a new law requiring social media platforms to display mental health warning labels to users.
The organisation argued that the legislation violates the First Amendment of the United States Constitution by compelling private companies to communicate messages prescribed by the government.
The suit, filed on Friday before a federal court in Manhattan, challenges New York’s Senate Bill S4505, which is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027.
The law requires social media platforms featuring potentially addictive functions, including infinite scrolling, autoplay and algorithm-driven feeds, to display warnings about the possible mental health consequences of excessive use, particularly among young people.
The prescribed warning states that while social media may offer benefits to some young users, excessive use may be associated with significant mental health harms.
NetChoice, whose members include Google, Meta, Snap and TikTok, maintained that the government cannot force private platforms to promote its preferred position on social media use.
The group argued that the warnings would interrupt users’ access to online content and amount to compelled speech, which it said is protected by the US Constitution.
Under the legislation, users would encounter a warning when they initially access a platform. Further notices would appear after prolonged use, with some warnings remaining on screen for up to 30 seconds and covering a substantial portion of the display.
NetChoice described the requirement as an attempt to burden online services and restrict access to protected speech.
The group also argued that the law was unnecessary and that New York could communicate its concerns about social media without compelling private companies to deliver government-approved messages.
New York Attorney-General Letitia James’s office had not immediately commented on the lawsuit.
Legal battle spreads across states
The New York challenge is part of a wider legal battle between technology companies and state governments over regulations targeting social media use, particularly among children and teenagers.
NetChoice filed a similar lawsuit against California last month, challenging that state’s social media warning requirements.
The group also cited a November 2025 decision in which a federal judge blocked enforcement of a comparable Colorado law on First Amendment grounds. Colorado is appealing the ruling.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the disputed legislation in December 2025 as part of efforts to address concerns about the impact of social media on young people’s mental health.
The latest lawsuit now places the law’s planned January 1, 2027 commencement under legal challenge, with NetChoice asking the federal court to prevent its enforcement.
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