Summary Bullets:
• In an opinion piece published in The New York Times, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy calls for a warning label for social media to educate adolescents and adults about the links between the medium and negative mental health effects.
• Referencing research that ties adolescent depression, poor body image, and harassment to social media consumption, Murthy says that while a warning label will not correct the issues, it would go a long way toward educating the public about the potential for harm associated with sites like Snapchat and Instagram.
Social media companies have long been under fire for using algorithms to manipulate sometimes vulnerable populations into viewing potentially harmful content. By its nature, social media encourages overuse to the point of near-addiction. Research has uncovered links between anxiety and depression in adolescents and social media use. A JAMA Network survey of 6,595 US adolescents finds that spending just 30 minutes on social media leads to an increase in internalizing issues and becoming depressed. The longer the session, the higher the rate of anxiety and depression. The study indicates that teenagers who spend three or more hours daily on social media are at a higher risk for mental health issues.
Citing this and other research as proof points that social media consumption can lead to mental health problems in children and teenagers, US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy calls for a warning label for social media. In an opinion piece published in The New York Times, Murthy acknowledges that a warning label will not cure underlying issues with social media. However, comparing it to the tobacco packaging warning labels first required in 1966 that eventually helped lead to a dramatic decrease in smoking rates, Murthy says these could educate the public in the same way on social media dangers. Murthy has also called for US congress to do more through legislation to protect children from digital harassment and abuse.
Not everyone has reached the same conclusion about social media dangers as Murthy and the research he cites. Critics have raised concerns about interference in free speech and noted the need to take personal responsibility for using any medium. Critics of Murthy’s call for a warning label and more government intervention also raises concerns about regulatory overreach. Some dismiss a warning label as little more than a useless box-checking device. Nor are all social media sites programmed the same way, with some encouraging healthy discourse and supportive communities.
Whatever your opinion, one thing is abundantly clear: Virtually all adolescents use social media, and they are consuming a lot of it. A 2023 Pew Research study of social media use among teens finds that 93% of all teens use social media. In the survey of 1,453 adolescents between the ages of 13 and 17, nearly half say they use social media “almost constantly.”
Social media can be problematic. Beyond research studies, congressional research has shed light on the technical ways social media companies lure users – and keep them from leaving their feeds and pages. Unfortunately, real-life anecdotes bear out the way social media users – and maybe most especially the young – can be driven by interactions to take extreme, and sometimes final acts. Murthy’s published opinion will certainly go a long way toward encouraging healthy debate and some important conversations.
Putting some pressure on social media companies to share more internal research with state and federal governments may not yield much cooperation, but trying to open up that conversation more could be important. However, fortunately or unfortunately, the most effective way to minimize damage and maximize benefits from social media is to keep the dialogue open among governments and citizens. Research and real life help us all understand the risks. It is up to individuals to educate themselves on what the potential dangers are and how to avoid them. Adults need to communicate these to children. Parents and guardians need to set rules on social media use in just the same way they do on gaming or streaming.
IT Connection 