On December 20, 2023, APA and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) filed an amicus brief (PDF, 321KB) in NetChoice, LLC v. Bonta before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. This legal matter, which had been elevated to the appellate level from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, revolves around the recently enacted age-appropriate design code legislation. The primary aim of this legislation is to address and mitigate the adverse effects of social media on the well-being of youth.
In collaboration with AAP, APA presented the court with research findings explaining the multifaceted influences of social media use on the physical and mental health of young people. The studies show how social media impacts sleep, academic performance, nutritional habits, self-esteem, drug and alcohol use, and much more.
This amicus brief serves as an extension of APA’s ongoing efforts (PDF, 431KB) to highlight psychological science on the positive and negative impacts of social media on youth.
The brief also explores the ways social media companies leverage design to enhance user engagement and the use of their platforms. APA and AAP underscored the importance of considering the psychological impact of social media use on youth within the legal discourse surrounding legislative efforts to reduce harm associated with social media use.
Read the full brief online (PDF, 321KB).
For more information, contact Corbin Evans.
