The Surgeon General Advisory addresses the concerning effects of social media use on children and adolescents’ mental health.
United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has issued a new advisory about the possible risk social media use may present to youth mental health. The urgent call for action comes amid a growing mental health crisis across the country, particularly among children and young adults. While social media can offer potential benefits, such as community and connection, access to important information, and an outlet for self-expression, it can also pose potential harm to mental health.
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According to the Surgeon General’s Advisory, up to 95 percent of youth ages 13–17 reported using social media, and more than a third said they use social media “almost constantly.” A study referenced in the advisory found that children and adolescents ages 12-15 who used social media for more than three hours a day had twice the risk of poor mental health outcomes such as anxiety and depression.
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To ensure better protection for children on social media, the Surgeon General in his advisory recommended action steps to five groups of stakeholders, including policymakers, technology companies, parents and caregivers, children and adolescents, and researchers.
The recommendations for each group include:
- Policymakers: Improve safety for all children using social media through strengthened protections such as age-appropriate health and safety standards, stricter data privacy, and limited access; ensure technology companies provide timely data-sharing regarding their platform’s health impact; and support the implementation of digital skills in schools to educate children to recognize online risks such as cyberbullying.
- Technology companies: Perform independent assessments of social media platforms to assess risks, provide findings and data with researchers and the public, and further advance approaches and policies in place to protect children on social media; prioritize and implement health and safety across social media platforms; and develop a process for complaints or issues from children, parents, educators, and others.
- Parents and caregivers: Create a family media plan to set healthy technology boundaries; establish technology-free areas within the home, such as during meals or bedtime; set health examples of social media use; have open communication with children about technology, the risks of social media, and their judgement-free reporting options if they experience bullying or online abuse.
- Children and adolescents: Reach out for help if you experience negative impacts from social media; set boundaries around the time you spend using technology; be cautious about what information you share online; and do not participate in any online harassment or abuse.
- Researchers: Develop a shared research agenda on the impact of social media on youth, including studies on social media’s impact on mental health, the role age plays, the various benefits and risks associated with social media, and the long-term effects it has from childhood through adulthood; create standardized definitions and measure for social media and mental health outcomes; develop best practices for social media use; and expand research collaboration with community partners.
