The official in charge of public health policy in the U.S. wants to warn Americans about the dangers of social media. In a New York Times op-ed piece, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy proposed warning labels on social media apps as a means of addressing the “emergency” posed by the youth mental health crisis.
Murthy’s op-ed outlines the mental health consequences of excessive social media usage. The Surgeon General cited several studies; one report found that adolescents who spend more than three hours per day on social media are twice as likely to develop anxiety and depression symptoms. Murthy also noted the connections between social media and body image issues. Several platforms have already launched their own solutions to address that particular point.
Despite the efforts made by tech companies, Murthy believes that social media apps need a general warning. In his words, that message would remind users that “social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents.”
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“One of the worst things for a parent is to know your children are in danger yet be unable to do anything about it. That is how parents tell me they feel when it comes to social media — helpless and alone in the face of toxic content and hidden harms,” Murthy wrote. “It doesn’t have to be this way. Faced with high levels of car-accident-related deaths in the mid- to late 20th century, lawmakers successfully demanded seatbelts, airbags, crash testing and a host of other measures that ultimately made cars safer.”
Murthy wants to combat the “urgent and widespread” dangers of social media with the same approach that has been used to address harmful substances like tobacco and alcohol. The U.S. Surgeon General’s op-ed references tobacco studies that show the efficacy of warning labels on packs of cigarettes. Murthy also cited a recent survey in which 76% of Latino parents said labels on social media would spur them into action.
Social media labels would require Congressional approval, and Murthy urged his governmental compatriots to act on his proposal. Congress already has its hands full with a bill that could force a divestiture or sale of TikTok. President Biden signed that bill into law in April, and multiple legal challenges have followed since.
Murthy understands that labels alone won’t solve the youth mental health crisis. He has put forth other recommendations and has proposed several policy shifts. He urged companies to share health-related data with independent scientists and the public, and he also stressed that teachers and parents should set up phone-free experiences for children.
Even as he raises the alarm about the dangers of social media, Murthy must understand that these platforms can have positive effects as well. In 2022, he helped President Biden promote a vaccine rollout with an appearance in the Commander-in-Chief’s BeReal.
