Statement of Support for NY Assemblymember Wallace

We the undersigned, a coalition of organizations and students dedicated to the promotion of youth wellbeing, issue the following statement of support for New York Assemblymember Monica Wallace’s bill regarding a social media and youth mental health awareness campaign. 

Many of us are members of Gen-Z, the first generation to not know a world without social media. Whereas social media has become a key aspect of the “growing up” experience for around 95% of U.S. teens. We live and see both the positives and negatives of social media use. 

Social media platforms were intended to promote expression and connection, which they have certainly been for many. But also, there is a darker side. As a generation, we have been a witness to the harms and dangers stemming from social media. They are a result of the abuse of youth data and cognitive development, along with other associated, both controllable and uncontrollable, risks. It is of increasing importance that we take action to promote public awareness as to the risks associated with social media use, to promote mental health resources and techniques to curb the negative impacts of social media, and to enact effective policy to create a world where social media is safer for youth. 

The bill proposed by Assemblymember Wallace addresses the need and establishes “a statewide youth mental health and social media campaign to promote public awareness of the impacts of social media usage on mental health”. It will inform the public, using research and statistically-based evidence of the risks to youth mental health social media poses, and educate the public on techniques to combat these impacts. Additionally, it would create an age appropriate course of study for grades K-12 on social media usage. 

Across the nation, a bipartisan effort has been growing to enact policy to address social media and its impacts on youth mental health. Through Assemblymember Wallace’s bill, New York can join the growing number of legislatures in leading the movement of effective policy in this field. But, we must act now. We support this bill, and we urge you to join us as well in pushing for the passage of this bill in support of our youth. We stand beside Platforms4Good, and other organizations, in this campaign.

Sincerely, 

Project: Solace Spirits (Let's Be Advocates)