The U.S. surgeon general is advocating for social media platforms to provide health warning labels for young users. He wrote in a recent op-ed, "The mental health crisis among young people is an emergency - and social media has emerged as an important contributor."

A study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that children between the ages of 12 and 15 who spend more than three hours per day on social media have twice the rate of mental health issues compared to those who spend less time. Research suggests that reducing social media time can alleviate symptoms in children with depression.

The surgeon general called on Congress to take action to require a surgeon general's warning label on social media platforms. He noted the success of surgeon general's warning labels on cigarette packs in increasing awareness and changing behavior.

He said social media is causing harm to children because a "powerful technology" has been unleased "without adequate safety measures, transparency or accountability."

He further advocated for Congress to enact legislation to protect children from online exploitation and abuse. The Kids Online Safety Act has 62 co-sponsors in the U.S. Senate.

He also called for social media companies to share public health data and implement independent safety audits.

He encouraged schools to be phone-free and for parents to create phone-free bedtimes, mealtimes, and social gatherings. He suggested that parents wait until their children have completed middle school to allow them to access social media and work with other families to create shared rules.

Last year, the surgeon general's office issued an advisory on social media and teenage users, calling on social media companies to prioritize safety and privacy and ensure that minimum age requirements are enforced. Kevin Shalvey and Katie Kindelan "Surgeon general calls for health warnings on social media for younger users" abcnews.go.com (Jun. 17, 2024).

Commentary and Checklist

Social media use is nearly universal among youth, with 95 percent of those between the ages of 13 and 17 in the U.S. saying they use a social media platform. Nearly two thirds of teenagers say they use social media every day, and one third said they use it "almost constantly."

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the way youth use social media and the content they are exposed to "pose mental health concerns." For example, 46 percent of those ages 13 to 17 said social media makes them feel worse about their body.

What healthy technology boundaries can safe adults set?

• Monitor children's online activities. Get a sense of who they are communicating with, how, and the subject matter.
• Keep computers in open areas.
• Teach children about online dangers and your rules for computer or device use.
• Make rules appropriate to the child's age.
• Be approachable for any questions or concerns children may encounter on digital devices.
• Implement parental controls.