THE SENATE	S.R. NO.	10
THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE RESOLUTION

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO CONDUCT A STUDY TO EVALUATE HAWAII RESIDENTS' ENGAGEMENT WITH ADDICTIVE ONLINE ACTIVITIES.

WHEREAS, in 2023, thirty-three states, including Hawaii, filed a suit against Meta Platforms, Inc.; Instagram, LLC; and other companies for deliberately designing addictive features on their platforms; and

WHEREAS, the State does not tolerate disingenuous and predatory practices against children; and

WHEREAS, excessive social media use is one of a wide range of online activities that individuals may engage with problematically; and

WHEREAS, many online activities are largely unregulated and unmonitored; and

WHEREAS, many users engage with addictive or problematic online activities privately and anonymously, inhibiting recognition of the problem by oneself, family, or partners; and

WHEREAS, a government cannot know what supports and safeguards are needed for its constituents without understanding the behaviors or activities the constituents engage in; and

WHEREAS, various vulnerable and underserved communities in Hawaii are disproportionately engaged in addictive or problematic online activities; and

WHEREAS, conducting a prevalence survey may help inform capacity-building efforts needed to best serve the people of Hawaii; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2024, that the Department of Health is urged to conduct a study to evaluate Hawaii residents' engagement with a range of online activities that can be inherently additive and disproportionately affect vulnerable and minority populations; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that to better understand local participation in potentially addictive online activities, the Department of Health is urged to deploy as part of the study, a prevalence survey to measure social media, internet gaming, pornography, mobile phone use, gambling, and high-risk stock and crypto currency trading; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Department of Health; Online Activity; Internet; Addiction