Dr. Vivek Murthy, the surgeon general, stressed the critical need for action in response to the harm that social media may do to children. He urged Congress to mandate app labels akin to those on cigarettes and alcoholic beverages.
Murthy presented data from a number of studies, one of which was an American Medical Association study from 2019 that was published in JAMA. According to this study, teens who use social media for three hours a day have a twofold increased risk of developing depression.
Murthy does not, however, have the exclusive right to impose cautionary labeling on apps. Congress would have to pass such a mandate. Murthy implored Congress to enact legislation addressing this issue. In a CNN interview, Murthy discussed his support for warning labels and stressed how crucial it is that parents are informed of the serious risks connected to social media use. He pointed out that over the past few decades, cigarette smoking has consistently decreased in the United States as a result of the adoption of labels on tobacco products, which were first put into effect in 1965.
Congress has been criticizing social media businesses for a long time because of the possible harm that these companies could cause to minors. CEOs of internet companies have been questioned on Capitol Hill a lot, most notably Mark Zuckerberg of Meta. Zuckerberg went so far as to publicly apologize to the families of youngsters who killed themselves as a result of cyberbullying and harassment.
"Parents should be given warnings until we have credible and solid evidence that social media is safe and until continuing precautions are adopted. That's when the label comes into play," Murthy told CNN. He expressed his hope that Congress will swiftly introduce legislation to include a surgeon general's warning label on social media. Murthy emphasized the urgency of addressing this issue promptly.
An escalating battle
Murthy has been warning for years about the harm that social media causes to children's mental health. But his latest proclamation of a state of emergency and his plea to Congress represent his most urgent request to deal with this matter so far.
Murthy issued a warning in May 2023, saying that there is not enough data to tell whether social media is safe for kids' and teens' mental health. He underlined that there is a serious risk of injury for children using social media.
Murthy suggested that parents set limits on their kids' social media use to raise awareness of the urgent public health issue at hand. She emphasized that it is too early for kids to use social applications, with the age of 13 being an appropriate starting point. It's crucial to remember that these advisories don't mandate action; rather, they act as a tool for raising awareness.
More action is needed.
Murthy recognized that even if Congress mandated warning labels, it would not be enough to effectively address the issue. As a solution, he proposed that schools should establish phone-free environments for children, including during dinner time and other family gatherings. Additionally, Murthy urged parents to limit their children's social media usage until they complete middle school.
During an interview with CNN on Monday, Murthy affirmed that the overall impact of social media on health is equally significant. "We are discussing the mental health and well-being of children," he explained.