Post: Should Social Media Platforms Include Health Warnings for Younger Users?

As social media increasingly impacts younger users, the need for health warnings is urgent. Experts argue that platforms should take responsibility for mental health by providing guidance on potential psychological risks, such as social comparison and sleep disruption. These warnings could help young users navigate online experiences with greater awareness, promoting a more balanced approach to social media engagement. For more information, contact us or book an appointment online. We have convenient locations to serve you in Cedar Rapid, IA, and St. Thomas, USVI.

In the linked article, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recommends social media platforms include health warnings for younger users. He believes that social media is a significant contributor to the youth mental health crisis and that making it safer for kids is urgent. Murthy recommends adding warning labels to social media feeds to raise awareness about the risks of social media on adolescent mental health. He emphasizes that social media has not been proven to be safe for kids and that there is mounting evidence of harms associated with its use. The warning labels would require congressional action to be implemented, followed by testing on the best messaging and frequency.

Murthy also highlights that 95% of adolescents are on social media, and those who spend three or more hours a day on it have a doubled risk for anxiety and depression symptoms. He compares the need for warnings on social media to the implementation of tobacco warnings, stating that while society is late in making these platforms safer, it is urgent to take action now.

Murthy shares personal measures he takes with his own children, such as not allowing them to use social media until they graduate from middle school and creating phone-free zones. He acknowledges that Congress plays a crucial role in implementing warnings and providing broader safeguards against social media risks to mental health. However, he urges parents and kids to limit screen time and be aware of the association between social media use and mental health harms until the platforms become safer.