📷 Image Credits: The Times of India
In a recent op-ed, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has called upon Congress to mandate warning labels on social media platforms to address the mental health crisis among youth. Murthy believes that a surgeon general’s warning label, similar to those on tobacco products, could increase awareness and change behaviors regarding social media use. He highlights that adolescents spending more than three hours a day on social media face a higher risk of anxiety and depression symptoms, and the average daily use for this age group is 4.8 hours.
Research shows that nearly half of adolescents feel worse about their bodies due to social media, emphasizing the negative impact of excessive usage. Murthy’s proposal aims to protect young people from harmful content online and restrict features that contribute to excessive use, such as push notifications and infinite scroll.
Additionally, he recommends that schools create phone-free environments and parents establish phone-free zones around bedtime and meals. Collaboration between parents and the community can help in setting shared rules to safeguard children’s mental health. Public health leaders, clinicians, and policymakers are urged to take action to ensure a healthy digital environment for young individuals.
The urgent call for warning labels on social media platforms aims to provoke necessary changes to make online spaces safer for children. The push for legislative action against the harmful effects of social media indicates a growing concern for the well-being of youth in the digital age.
