March 28, 2023
The Honorable Nancy Skinner
California State Senate
1021 O St., Suite
Sacramento CA 95814
Re: Support for Senate Bill 287
Dear Senator Skinner:
Mental Health America of California is pleased to support SB 287, legislation designed to hold social media platforms accountable for promoting the illegal sale of fentanyl to California youth and for the sale of unlawful firearms, including ghost guns, via social media platforms. The protections in SB 287 would also hold these platforms accountable for targeting other harmful content toward youth that could result in suicide, eating disorders, dangerous dieting practices, or inflicting harm on themselves or others.
Mental Health America of California (MHAC) is a peer-run organization that has been leading the state in behavioral health public policy and advocacy since 1957. The mission of MHAC is to ensure that people of all ages, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, language, race, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, spirituality, religion, age or socioeconomic status who require mental health services and supports are able to live full and productive lives, receive the mental health services and other services that they need, and are not denied any other benefits, services, rights, or opportunities based on their need for mental health services.
We oppose the dangerous algorithms of social media platforms that direct users, including children and youth, to harmful and dangerous content. Unregulated social media platforms have increased youth access to weapons, substances, and harmful content which has been life threatening for our youth. Senate Bill 287 takes a bold step to hold social media platforms accountable for their part in intermediating illegal activity and life- threatening youth trends.
For these reasons, we support Senate Bill 287. If you or your staff have any questions, or if Mental Health America of California can be of any assistance on this or any other behavioral health bill, please do not hesitate to contact me at hstrunk@mhac.org, or our Interim Director of Public Policy, Karen Vicari at kvicari@mhacofca.org.
In Community,
Heidi Strunk
President & CEO
Mental Health America of California