NetChoice sued New York in federal court on November 13, 2026, seeking to block a social media warning-label law before its scheduled January 1, 2027 start. The trade group argues that forcing platforms to display the state’s online-safety message violates the First Amendment, Reuters reports. Source Source
The group has more than 30 members, including Google, YouTube, Meta, Snap and TikTok. New York Attorney General Letitia James’s office declined immediate comment to Reuters. Source
What the warnings would say
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the law in December 2025. According to Reuters, it requires social media platforms with features including infinite scrolling, autoplay and algorithmic feeds to warn about potential harm to younger users. Source
The required warning acknowledges that social media may benefit some young users while stating that “excessive use may be associated with significant mental health harms.” Reuters reports that the statement is modeled on 2023 findings by former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. Source
Why NetChoice is fighting it
In its complaint, NetChoice says New York is compelling its members to convey the state’s “preferred message” about online safety. The group also says users would encounter warnings when signing on and after multiple hours of use, without a way to bypass them. The missing skip button is part of the constitutional fight. Source
“Unlike a static warning on a product label, these warnings repeatedly interrupt users and block access to protected speech,” NetChoice said, according to Reuters. Source
The group filed a similar lawsuit against California in October 2026. It also points to a Colorado law that it says resembles New York’s: a federal judge blocked that law in November 2025 on First Amendment grounds, and Colorado is appealing. Source
Colorado gives NetChoice a comparison to point to, not an automatic win in New York. Source
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