He US Surgeon General Called for social media companies to be required to use safety warning labels on a New York Times opinion essay published on Monday.
Citing research showing social media could have a negative impact youth mental health, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy said a general surgeon warning on social media platforms, similar to those for tobacco and alcohol products, could raise awareness among parents about the potential harm of the platforms.
“One of the worst things for a parent is knowing that their children are in danger and not being able to do anything about it,” Murthy wrote. “This is how parents tell me they feel when it comes to social media: powerless and alone in the face of toxic content and hidden harms.”
NetChoicea trade organization that represents some social media companies, said in a statement shared with USA TODAY that the responsibility of protecting their children’s mental health should fall to parents, not the government or technology companies.
Research shows social media could have benefits and harms
Murthy said social media is a major factor in the mental health crisis among young people, which he called “an emergency.”
Social networks have become almost omnipresent among young people. He 2023 US Surgeon General Notice on Social Media and Youth Mental Health found that almost 95% of young people between 13 and 17 years old use a social media platform.and more than a third say they use it “almost constantly.”
The advisory concluded that more research is needed to fully understand the impacts of social media. But it showed there are some benefits and “ample indicators that social media may also have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.”
The potential benefits identified in the advertisement were community, connection, and self-expression. He also stated that social media can support the mental health of LGBTQ youth to help them develop their identities. Additionally, seven in 10 girls of color reported encountering race-related, identity-affirming content on social media, according to the advisory.
Potential harms of social media use included an increased risk of depression and anxiety. Some studies also showed an increased risk of negative health outcomes for adolescent girls, including eating disorders and poor sleep.
Murthy praises dairy recall, Boeing response as examples of quick action
In the NYT letter, Murthy noted the FAA’s quick decision Grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX 9 after a door plug came loose mid-flight earlier this year and widespread recalls of cheese products due to risk of listeria contamination.
“Why haven’t we responded to the harms of social media when they are no less urgent or pervasive than those posed by unsafe cars, airplanes, or food?” Murthy wrote. “These harms are not a lack of willpower and parenting; they are the consequence of unleashing powerful technology without adequate safety, transparency or accountability measures.”
Various state bills Laws seeking to limit young people’s access to social media have been passed by legislatures but blocked in the courts. NetChoice often filed such lawsuits.
NetChoice Vice President and General Counsel Carl Szabo said in a statement that the responsibility falls on parents to protect their children from online harm.
“A warning label oversimplifies this issue, and it’s a simplistic way of approaching it that assumes all children are exactly the same. In reality, every child is different and struggles with their own challenges,” Szabo said. “Parents and guardians are best suited to handle these unique needs of their children, not the government or technology companies.”
