WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has called for the implementation of a warning label for social media to address what he describes as the “defining public health challenge of our time”—the youth mental health crisis.
In an interview with ABC News’ Elizabeth Schulze on Monday, Murthy emphasized the urgency of making social media safer for children. “We are living in the middle of a youth mental health crisis, and I have said publicly that this is the defining public health challenge of our time,” Murthy stated. “Social media has emerged as an important contributor to that crisis, so warning kids and parents about the harms associated with social media is urgent.”
The proposed warning, which would require congressional approval, aims to universally inform social media users about the potential risks to adolescent mental health. Testing for effective messaging and appropriate frequency of these warnings would follow, with the ultimate goal of fostering behavior change.
Murthy highlighted that concerns from parents across the country about the safety of social media for their children prompted this initiative. “What we can conclude, based on our research and talking to experts, is that social media has not been proven safe for kids. There is mounting evidence of harms associated with its use,” he said.
Murthy pointed out the alarming statistics: 95% of adolescents are active on social media, with those spending three hours or more per day on these platforms experiencing a doubled risk of anxiety and depression symptoms. The average usage among adolescents is 4.8 hours daily.
Drawing a parallel to the tobacco warnings implemented in 1966, which significantly reduced smoking rates over several decades, Murthy stressed the need for timely action. “While we are late as a society to ultimately making these platforms safer, it’s urgent that we start taking action now,” he said.
Murthy, both as a surgeon general and a father, underscored the personal stakes in this issue. His children are not allowed to use social media until they graduate middle school, at which point he and his wife will reassess based on available safety data and regulations.
For children already on social media, Murthy recommended creating phone-free zones during dinner, social interactions, and bedtime. He urged parents to build communities around these phone-free zones for collective adherence.
Acknowledging the broader legislative challenge, Murthy called on Congress to act on implementing warnings and safeguarding against social media risks. Despite the potential for legislative gridlock, he remained optimistic about the nation’s ability to protect its youth. “As a nation, we can do hard things when it comes to protecting and safeguarding our kids,” he asserted.
In the interim, Murthy is committed to raising awareness to encourage parents and children to limit screen time. “Making the platform safer is key, but until that happens, it’s important that parents and kids know the association between social media use and mental health harms,” he concluded.
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