Advancing Digital Support for Mental Health Services Act; ADS for Mental Health Services Act
Summary
The "Advancing Digital Support for Mental Health Services Act" (ADS for Mental Health Services Act) mandates that covered digital advertising platforms report their public service advertisements to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). These reports must include the number, value, and focus of mental and behavioral health care resource advertisements. The FTC will then summarize this data in a report to Congress.
Expected Effects
This act aims to increase transparency regarding mental health-related public service announcements on digital platforms. It requires platforms to disclose the extent of their contributions to promoting mental health resources. The collected data will inform Congress about the role of digital advertising in supporting mental health initiatives.
Potential Benefits
- Increased transparency in digital advertising related to mental health.
- Enhanced awareness of available mental health resources for the public.
- Data-driven insights for Congress to inform future mental health policies.
- Potential for better targeting of mental health resources to those in need.
- Promotion of free mental and behavioral health care resources.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential burden on digital advertising platforms to comply with reporting requirements.
- Limited scope, as the act sunsets after 5 years.
- Possible privacy concerns, although the act states it does not supersede existing privacy laws.
- The definition of 'covered digital advertising platform' may exclude some relevant platforms.
- The effectiveness of the advertisements themselves is not directly addressed, only the reporting of them.
Constitutional Alignment
The act aligns with the general welfare clause of the Constitution, as it aims to promote mental health services. Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce (Article I, Section 8) provides a basis for regulating digital advertising platforms. The First Amendment implications are minimal, as the act does not restrict speech but rather requires reporting on existing advertisements.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).