If you think it’s a stretch to say social media is just as dangerous as cigarettes, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy disagrees. This week, Murthy launched a campaign to slap warning labels on Facebook, Instagram, X, Snapchat and all the other platforms so children and their parents are more aware of the risks of too much time online.
In an op-ed published in The New York Times on Monday, Murthy wrote that the mental health crisis among America’s youth is an emergency, and social media is a primary cause.
“Adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of anxiety and depression symptoms, and the average daily use in this age group, as of the summer of 2023, was 4.8 hours,” he wrote. “Additionally, nearly half of adolescents say social media makes them feel worse about their bodies.”
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Murthy also contends that while a surgeon general’s warning might better inform parents and keep kids off social media, more needs to be done. He also argues legislation is necessary to protect young people from online dangers, including:
- Online harassment
- Abuse
- Exploitation
- Exposure to extreme violence and sexual content
Congress should act to prevent social media companies from collecting sensitive, personal data and to restrict push notifications, autoplay, infinite scroll and other features “which prey on developing brains and contribute to excessive use,” Murthy asserted.
Companies should also be forced to publicize any data they’ve collected on social media’s health effects. As of now, there is no such requirement. “While the platforms claim they are making their products safer, Americans need more than words,” he concluded. “We need proof.”
