Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined 31 colleagues this week to urge Congress to pass legislation to protect children from online harm. [Health News Illinois]

The 32 attorneys general called on congressional leaders to pass legislation that would enhance online protection for minors by requiring default safety settings on platforms and allowing for the disabling of “manipulative design features" that keep children online, Raoul’s office said in a statement Tuesday. 

America faces a “national youth mental health catastrophe,” buoyed in part by the addictive nature of social media platforms, according to the attorneys general.

“The states have been consistently acting to vigorously protect kids from online dangers using their existing consumer protection authority, and we look forward to further collaboration,” the letter said. “These changes will help create a safer online environment that reduces harm to kids.”

The attorneys general are asking Congress to pass the law by the end of the year.

Raoul said in a statement that social media can interfere with sleep and education as well as contribute to depression, anxiety and body dysmorphia.

Joining the letter is the latest step Raoul has taken to address the impact of social media on youth mental health. This fall he backed an effort to place a surgeon general’s warning on social media platforms.

Raoul and more than a dozen attorneys general in October sued TikTok, alleging the platform purposefully addicted children and teens. He sued Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, last year.

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