The New York Times (5/23, Pearson, Richtel, Levenson) reports that on Tuesday, US surgeon general Dr. Vivek Murthy “issued an extraordinary public warning…about the risks of social media to young people, urging a push to fully understand the possible ‘harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.’” Murthy, in a 19-page advisory, “noted that the effects of social media on adolescent mental health were not fully understood, and that social media can be beneficial to some users.” But, he wrote, “There are ample indicators that social media can also have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.”
The Hill (5/23, Choi) reports, “Murthy specifically pointed to the possibility of a link between time spent on social media and depression and anxiety,” citing “one 2019 study that found adolescents between the ages of 12 and 15 who spent more than three hours on social media daily had double the risk of developing symptoms of depression and anxiety.”
NBC News (5/23, Edwards, Jackson) reports, “The advisory urges policymakers and the companies that make the social media platforms to share with parents the burden of managing children’s and adolescents’ social media use,” and it “outlines recommendations for both technology companies and lawmakers.”
Meanwhile, Reuters (5/23) reports that APA CEO Saul Levin, MD, MPA, FRCP-E, FRCPsych, said, “The first principle of healthcare is to do no harm – that’s the same standard we need to start holding social media platforms to.”
Related Links:
— “Surgeon General Warns That Social Media May Harm Children and Adolescents “Matt Richtel, The New York Times, May 23, 2023