U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy called for stronger guidelines this week for social media use among children and teens, saying the platforms may pose a "profound risk" to young people's mental health. In a report issued on Tuesday, Murthy urged technology companies and lawmakers to take "immediate action" by formulating policies to protect young people from "addictive apps and extreme and inappropriate content" on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat. Current guidelines on social media use have been shaped by media platforms and are inadequate, he added. "Our...

A relatable scenario for any American parent with teens is going on a drive, only to see your child taking multiple selfies of themselves with their phone, and then posting it on a social media platform like Instagram or Snapchat. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 90% of teens aged 13-17 have used social media, and teens are online on average nine hours a day, not including time spent on homework. Given the large amounts of time teens spend on social media platforms, it should behoove...

The United States surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy, Tuesday issued a new advisory warning of the mental health effects of social media on young people.

The nation’s top health official issued an extraordinary public warning on Tuesday about the risks of social media to young people, urging a push to fully understand the possible “harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.” In a 19-page advisory, the United States surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy, noted that the effects of social media on adolescent mental health were not fully understood, and that social media can be beneficial to some users. Nonetheless, he wrote, “There are ample indicators that social media can also have...

A teenager holds her phone. The U.S. surgeon general is warning there is not enough evidence to show that social media is safe for young people — and is calling on tech companies, parents and caregivers to take “immediate action to protect kids now.” The U.S. surgeon general is warning there is not enough evidence to show that social media is safe for children and teens — and is calling on tech companies, parents and caregivers to take “immediate action to protect kids now.” With young people’s social media use...

“President Biden has made tackling the mental health crisis a top priority, and he continues to call on Congress to pass legislation that would strengthen protections for children’s privacy, health and safety online,” the White House said in its announcement. Biden has called for stronger kids’ online safety and privacy laws in his past two State of the Union addresses. The task force created by the White House would be led by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Commerce Department, and will review existing tech industry efforts...

There is “growing evidence” that the use of social media by kids and adolescents could be detrimental to their mental health, according to the U.S. surgeon general. Dr. Vivek Murthy is sounding the alarm about the negative effects of social media on the mental health and well-being of young people, amid what he calls “a national youth mental health crisis.” In a new advisory issued Tuesday, Murthy highlighted the “significant” public health challenge posed by the use of social media by U.S. youth — specifically those between the ages of...

US surgeon general calls for tighter regulations and greater research on minors’ use of social media websites. Washington, DC – The United States surgeon general has warned that social media can have a “profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children”, calling for more regulations and research on minors’ use of internet platforms. In a report released on Tuesday, Vivek Murthy – who acts as the top government spokesperson on public health and is known as the nation’s doctor – drew on existing research to outline...

A new advisory from U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warns that social media may pose a real threat to kids’ health. The advisory calls for more research to better understand how endless scrolling among children could be contributing to the youth mental health crisis. It cites studies that found a relationship between social media consumption and mental health issues like depression and anxiety, as well as concerns that scrolling can stimulate brain activity similar to other types of addiction. The advisory also describes social media use among youth as near-universal,...

How to protect kids and teens from the harmful effects of social media U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy is calling for stronger guidelines for social media use among children and teens, pointing to a growing body of research that the platforms may pose what he described as a "profound risk" to young people's mental health. In a report issued on Tuesday, Murthy urged technology companies and lawmakers to take "immediate action" by formulating policies to protect young people from "addictive apps and extreme and inappropriate content" on platforms such...