South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson has joined a coalition of 27 states and Washington, D.C., in filing a legal brief to support Florida’s efforts to defend its law targeting the negative effects of social media on children. The law seeks to protect minors from what state officials describe as addictive and harmful practices by major technology companies.
“Social media companies know their products are addictive and destructive to children’s mental health,” said Attorney General Wilson. “They have engineered these platforms with the same tactics used by tobacco companies, keeping kids glued to screens while depression, anxiety, and self-harm skyrocket. Parents are fighting a battle they cannot win alone. States must step in to protect the next generation.”
The legal brief outlines concerns that excessive use of social media is contributing to increased rates of depression, anxiety, sleep issues, and suicidal thoughts among teenagers. It also states that there is both a compelling interest and a moral responsibility for states to address these risks. According to the coalition, Florida’s law represents a targeted approach that incorporates parental consent requirements and aims to prevent corporations from exploiting young users.
The group is asking for reversal of a lower court decision that stopped Florida from enforcing its legislation. The law would restrict social media companies from using features like autoplay, push notifications, and infinite scroll—elements described as intentionally designed to keep children under 16 engaged on their platforms.
According to the attorneys general, Florida’s statute aligns with First Amendment protections because it focuses on regulating platform features rather than content or speech. They argue that relying solely on parental controls or educational campaigns has not been effective against large tech firms investing heavily in creating addictive experiences for young people.
States joining South Carolina in supporting Utah’s lawsuit include Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming and the District of Columbia.
The full legal brief can be accessed online.
