In a recent statement, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy emphasized the urgent need for action against the threat social media poses to children. He called on Congress to implement warning labels on social media apps, similar to those found on cigarettes and alcohol.
“The mental health crisis among young people is an emergency — and social media has emerged as an important contributor,” Murthy stated in an op-ed published in the New York Times.
Citing various studies, including a 2019 American Medical Association study published in JAMA, Murthy highlighted the risks associated with excessive social media usage. According to the studies, teens who spend three hours a day on social media double their risk of depression, with the average teen spending nearly five hours a day on social media apps.
Despite his concerns, Murthy stressed that he alone cannot mandate the implementation of warning labels on apps. He urged Congress to take urgent action to address this pressing issue.
“It is time to require a surgeon general’s warning label on social media platforms, stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents,” Murthy urged. Such a label, which requires congressional action, could help raise awareness among parents and adolescents about the potential risks of social media.
Drawing parallels to the successful decline in cigarette smoking following the introduction of warning labels in 1965, Murthy advocated for similar measures to address the harmful effects of social media on children.
While social media companies have faced criticism from Congress for their role in harming children, little action has been taken to regulate children’s social media usage. Murthy called on Congress to take decisive steps to protect children’s well-being.
“We’re in the middle of a youth mental health crisis, and I’m concerned that social media is contributing to the harm that kids are experiencing,” Murthy emphasized in a recent interview. He urged parents to limit their children’s social media use and advocated for stricter regulations to safeguard children’s mental health.
As the debate continues, several states have taken steps to pass legislation aimed at increasing the age at which children can access social media platforms or certain features. Notable examples include Florida’s prohibition on children under 14 obtaining social media accounts without parental consent and New York’s measures to regulate algorithms in children’s social media feeds.
In his most urgent call to action yet, Murthy implored Congress to address the dangers of social media and take concrete steps to protect children from its harmful effects.
