A Warning Label for social media? The US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S., is urging Congress to enact legislation for a tobacco-like warning on social media. It's a significant step in the right direction. I’m a supporter of it!
In a New York Times op-ed piece from Monday, Dr. Murthy says the state of declining youth mental health from prolonged social media use is an emergency — finally, a call to action!
“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,” Dr. Murthy writes. “A surgeon general’s warning label, which requires congressional action, would regularly remind parents and adolescents that social media has not been proven safe. Evidence from tobacco studies show that warning labels can increase awareness and change behavior.”
From my perspective, a warning label will help parents manage screen time with their children. Having more ways to talk about health impact, including from our country's highest-ranked physician, would be a good addition.
Dr. Murthy has reached out to me in the past to discuss social media and our youth and families, and I know he cares deeply about the stress parents feel trying to manage all of this in their homes.
I was thrilled to see that in Dr. Murthy’s New York Times Op-Ed, he brought up the need to put phones put away during the school day — something my team and I have been advocating for since 2017 with our Away for the Day campaign.
An incredibly important public health issue is the fact that time on social media deprives youth of things they need for development. They could use that time to explore interests, socialize in person, and sleep — all supporting mental well-being. Last week, a 15-year-old patient who is struggling with clinical anxiety told me she is on TikTok at least 3 hours a day and that it is making her feel worse about herself, but she finds it so hard to stop.
I recently interviewed Dr. Jonathan Haidt about the negative impact of social media on youth for a podcast (and for my upcoming K-5 version of our original Screenagers). In the podcast, he concurs with me about the plethora of evidence showing that increased social media use increases mental health problems in adolescents.
Listen Here: Apple Podcasts / Spotify / Youtube / Website
We talked about how it is developmentally appropriate for youth to seek social acceptance. Social media throws a two-ton wrench into that developmental experience. Not only is there now constant comparison, but the amplified social aggression makes seeking social acceptance that much more of a minefield.
With so many voices in the choir singing about the dangers social media poses to our youth, I truly hope Congress heeds Dr. Murthy’s call for a warning label and starts enacting legislation. It’s a tumultuous time politically, but this issue has strong support on both sides of the aisle.
Dr. Murthy is not stopping at a warning label. He is demanding that legislation from Congress include language to “shield young people from online harassment, abuse and exploitation and from exposure to extreme violence and sexual content that too often appears in algorithm-driven feeds. The measures should prevent platforms from collecting sensitive data from children and should restrict the use of features like push notifications, autoplay and infinite scroll, which prey on developing brains and contribute to excessive use.”
He also demands that tech companies allow users access to “all of their data on health effects with independent scientists and the public — currently, they do not — and allow independent safety audits. While the platforms claim they are making their products safer, Americans need more than words. We need proof.”
It is such a relief to see Dr. Murthy pushing for this measure. The data is clear. Since the introduction of social media, youth mental health problems have increased. I am optimistic that Congress will indeed pass support Dr. Murthy’s request for a warning label.
Here are questions to get the conversation started with youth in your family or group:
Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel! With new ones added regularly, you'll find over 100 videos covering parenting advice, guidance, podcasts, movie clips and more. Here's our latest!
A Warning Label for social media? The US Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S., is urging Congress to enact legislation for a tobacco-like warning on social media. It's a significant step in the right direction. I’m a supporter of it!
In a New York Times op-ed piece from Monday, Dr. Murthy says the state of declining youth mental health from prolonged social media use is an emergency — finally, a call to action!
“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,” Dr. Murthy writes. “A surgeon general’s warning label, which requires congressional action, would regularly remind parents and adolescents that social media has not been proven safe. Evidence from tobacco studies show that warning labels can increase awareness and change behavior.”
From my perspective, a warning label will help parents manage screen time with their children. Having more ways to talk about health impact, including from our country's highest-ranked physician, would be a good addition.
Dr. Murthy has reached out to me in the past to discuss social media and our youth and families, and I know he cares deeply about the stress parents feel trying to manage all of this in their homes.
I was thrilled to see that in Dr. Murthy’s New York Times Op-Ed, he brought up the need to put phones put away during the school day — something my team and I have been advocating for since 2017 with our Away for the Day campaign.
An incredibly important public health issue is the fact that time on social media deprives youth of things they need for development. They could use that time to explore interests, socialize in person, and sleep — all supporting mental well-being. Last week, a 15-year-old patient who is struggling with clinical anxiety told me she is on TikTok at least 3 hours a day and that it is making her feel worse about herself, but she finds it so hard to stop.
Many young people are overwhelmed by constant social media use, which can displace important activities like sleep, schoolwork, and friendships. Over 200 school districts are suing platforms like Meta for harms related to social media addiction. The blog covers what problematic social media use is from a clinical perspective and how our kids can talk with a friend (or family member) if they are worried their friend might have some level of problematic use.
READ MORE >
A week ago, Instagram announced changes to its rules for “Teen Accounts.” All new teen users will be defaulted into these accounts, and current teen users will transition over the next two months. Instagram’s head of Products, discussed these changes, and one comment surprised me. She mentioned that teens aged 13 to 16 will need parental permission to have a public account, hoping this would encourage dialogue between teens and parents about social media use. However, I feel this still puts too much responsibility on parents when we need broader societal solutions. I discuss this and the rest of the changes in today's blog.
READ MORE >
We have created a table that compares the 4 most common social media platforms and the specific ways they are similar and different. Spoiler alert, they are way more similar than different. It makes perfect sense since companies see what young people use on other apps and incorporate such features into their own apps.
READ MORE >for more like this, DR. DELANEY RUSTON'S NEW BOOK, PARENTING IN THE SCREEN AGE, IS THE DEFINITIVE GUIDE FOR TODAY’S PARENTS. WITH INSIGHTS ON SCREEN TIME FROM RESEARCHERS, INPUT FROM KIDS & TEENS, THIS BOOK IS PACKED WITH SOLUTIONS FOR HOW TO START AND SUSTAIN PRODUCTIVE FAMILY TALKS ABOUT TECHNOLOGY AND IT’S IMPACT ON OUR MENTAL WELLBEING.
