Advisory Needed for Social Media Platforms?
Surgeon general calls for social media warning labels amid teen mental health crisis—PBS Interview.
Most of us hate what social media has done to our public discourse and the attention span of our youth. But are we falling into a trap with this generation’s freakout topic? Terms such as “reefer madness” and “satanic” heavy metal music and video games “rotting our minds” were all destined to destroy prior generations. But somehow we survived. It is time to use the medium for all the positive things we can do with its power.
Summary
In a “NewsHour” interview with Amna Nawaz, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy discussed the significant mental health risks linked to adolescent social media use. Highlighting that nearly 90% of American teens are on social media platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram, Dr. Murthy emphasized the association between excessive use and increased anxiety and depression. He proposed implementing warning labels on social media, akin to those for tobacco, to raise awareness and influence behavior. Dr. Murthy acknowledged the benefits for marginalized communities but argued that the harms often outweigh these benefits. He advised parents to delay their children’s use of social media until after middle school and create tech-free zones at home.
Our Take
While social media platforms are often criticized for their addictive nature and negative influence, they hold immense potential to positively connect communities. Our work with Mike Dobbyn and the Sanfilippo Project exemplifies how these platforms can be harnessed to foster meaningful connections and support. By transforming digital spaces into hubs for engagement and collaboration, we can leverage their vast reach to build robust support systems. This approach not only mitigates the adverse effects of social media, but also turns a potential liability into an asset, promoting healthier, more connected communities and driving collective growth and well-being.
