S. 1885: Stop the Scroll Act

The Stop the Scroll Act (S. 1885) is a proposed law introduced in the U.S. Senate on May 22, 2025, by Senator Katie Boyd Britt (R-AL). The bill aims to address mental health concerns associated with social media use by requiring platforms to display prominent mental health warning labels to users in the United States. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), in collaboration with the Surgeon General, would develop and enforce regulations for these labels within 180 days of the bill's enactment. The warning labels would appear each time a user accesses a covered platform, cannot be hidden or disabled, and must direct users to mental health resources like the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Platforms would have one year after enactment to comply with these requirements. The FTC and state attorneys general would have enforcement authority, with potential civil penalties for violations. The regulations would be reviewed and updated every five years to reflect changes in technology and medical science. The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full Senate. If enacted, it would affect major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, and Twitter, requiring them to implement the warning label system for all U.S.-based users.

Supporters of the Stop the Scroll Act argue that it is a necessary step to raise awareness about the mental health risks associated with prolonged social media use. They believe that mandatory warning labels will inform users, especially young people, about potential harms such as exposure to bullying, online harassment, and child exploitation. Advocates suggest that this measure could lead to more mindful engagement with social media platforms and encourage users to seek help when needed. The bill's bipartisan sponsorship indicates a shared concern across party lines about the impact of social media on mental health.

Critics of the Stop the Scroll Act contend that while the intention to address mental health concerns is commendable, the implementation of mandatory warning labels may not effectively change user behavior. They argue that users might become desensitized to the warnings over time, reducing their impact. Additionally, there are concerns about the potential burden on social media companies to comply with the regulations, which could involve significant technical and financial resources. Some also question whether government-mandated warnings infringe on free speech rights and whether such measures set a precedent for further regulation of online content.

The Stop the Scroll Act, sponsored by Katie Britt, shows a low risk of conflict of interest based on the available campaign finance data. The top donor industries for Katie Britt are Health Professionals and the Retired, with donations amounting to $240,000,000 and $75,000,000 respectively. There is no direct overlap detected between these industries and the subject matter of the bill. Furthermore, the lobbying activity related to this bill's policy area does not directly involve these industries. The disclosed lobbying amounts from the Private Care Association Inc and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives, and the American Rivers Action Fund total to $160,000, which is a small fraction compared to the total donations received by the sponsor. This suggests a low level of financial influence from these lobbying entities.

Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.

Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026

Top industries funding Katie Britt, ranked by total contributions.

Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)