Social media is driving teen mental health crisis, surgeon general warns
NBCMAR 31 2023
US Surgeon General Calls for Social Media Warning Labels
Above: Dr. Vivek H. Murthy speaks onstage at The Archewell Foundation Parents’ Summit: Mental Wellness in the Digital Age during Project Healthy Minds' World Mental Health Day Festival 2023 at Hudson Yards on October 10, 2023 in New York City. Image copyright: Bryan Bedder/Stringer/Getty Images Entertainment for Project Health Minds via Getty Images
The Spin
Narrative A
Despite social media platforms establishing age minimums, nearly 40% of kids aged 8-12 and 95% aged 13-17 use social media in the US. If a government label will inspire better communication between parents and their wards, they should be added to the platforms. Children must be better protected.
Narrative B
There's no reason to add a warning label to these platforms since there's no evidence that social media considerably impacts teenagers' mental health. Children's mental health issues are more often related to socio-economic factors than social media use itself. The focus must be on how social media is used rather than just the time spent.