Gigi Hadid

Supermodel Gigi Hadid was pictured arriving home after her split from boyfriend of 2 years, Zayn Malik. Gigi, 22, had a mental health warning sticker on the back of her smartphone that reads: “Social Media Seriously Harms Your Mental Health”.

Gigi Hadid

The warning sticker is similar to the warning labels on the side of cigarette packages that warns of the harmful effects of smoking. Congress approved the Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act of 1965 which forced cigarette makers to add the warning labels to all cigarette packages sold in the United States.

cigarette warning labels

A federally funded marketing campaign significantly decreased the number of cigarette smokers in America.

Mental health professionals have long warned that Internet/social media addiction is just as harmful as cigarette smoking. But Congress has not yet considered a bill that would force ISPs or phone makers to place warning stickers on all Internet devices.

The signs and symptoms of Internet/social media addiction include:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Insomnia
  • Agitation
  • Headaches
  • Fear
  • Loneliness
  • Mood swings
  • Avoiding work
  • Weight gain or weight loss
  • Dry eyes, vision problems
  • Changes in sleeping habits
  • Self-imposed isolation
  • Defensiveness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Drug and alcohol abuse
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Neck and back pain
  • Photos by MMV / BACKGRID, Zara / BACKGRID