Surgeon General Calls for Social Media Warning Labels to Protect Youth Mental Health

The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, has called for social media platforms to display safety warning labels, similar to those on tobacco and alcohol products, to raise awareness about potential harms to youth mental health. In a New York Times opinion essay, Murthy cites research showing social media's negative impact, stating:

"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."

Research Highlights Benefits and Harms

The 2023 Surgeon General's Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health found 95% of youth aged 13-17 use social media, with a third using it constantly. The advisory concluded that while benefits include community, connection, and self-expression, especially for LGBTQ+ youth, there are also indicators of profound risks to mental health. Potential harms include increased depression, anxiety, disordered eating, and poor sleep.

Criticism and Response

NetChoice, a trade group for some social media companies, argues that parents should be responsible for protecting their children's mental health, not the government or tech companies. Vice President Carl Szabo said:

"A warning label oversimplifies this issue...parents and guardians are the most appropriately situated to handle these unique needs of their children."

Murthy, however, compares the social media issue to swift recalls of unsafe food and technology, questioning why similar action hasn't been taken for social media harms.

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URLs:

• NYT Opinion: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/17/opinion/social-media-health-warning.html
• Surgeon General's Advisory: https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/sg-youth-mental-health-social-media-advisory.pdf