Social media use by children and teens can pose a “significant risk of harm” to their mental health and well-being, the US Surgeon General has warned.
In new recommendations released on Tuesday, Dr. Vivek Murthy calls on technology companies, policy makers and parents to take “immediate action to protect children now”. He says without solid independent research, it’s impossible to know whether social media is safe for children and adolescents.
“The bottom line is that there isn’t enough evidence to conclude that social media is actually safe enough for children. And that’s really important for parents to know,” Murthy said. told the Associated Press.
The 25-page recommendation was developed as part of an ongoing investigation into what the Surgeon General considers a full-blown youth mental health crisis, and points to the ubiquitous use of social media by young people. ing. Up to 95% of 17-year-old Americans use social media platforms, and more than a third say they use them “almost always.”
This report shows how current controls on access by children are not working. Most sites have a minimum age requirement of 13 years or older, but from the age of 8 to 12 almost 40% are regular users.
The Surgeon General’s warning came as the White House released its own notice on Tuesday about what it called an “unprecedented youth mental health crisis” in the United States. The number of children and adolescents suffering from depression and anxiety has increased by nearly 30% in recent years, and social media is a clear contributing factor.
The White House is establishing a new task force on children and online health and safety. Its job is to identify the potential harms posed by online platforms and devise a tool kit designed to address the problems for tech companies developing new products.
Concern about the impact of popular online apps on children has grown in recent years. In 2021, whistleblower Frances Haugen said she knew Facebook and Instagram were directing young users to harmful content, including content that promoted anorexia, and explicitly targeted children under 13. It was revealed that he was targeting the government.
According to an internal survey by Meta, Facebook’s parent company, 14% of teenage girls said using Instagram made them more suicidal, and 17% said it made their eating disorders worse.
Following Haugen’s revelations, Mehta canceled plans to launch a children’s version of Instagram.
“We know that technology companies are taking steps to make their platforms healthier and more secure, but that’s not enough,” Murthy told the AP.
His recommendations emphasize the critical nature of adolescence in human brain development, which leaves children between the ages of 10 and 19 highly vulnerable to peer pressure. It is during these years that an individual’s self-esteem is formed, and it is also during this time that mental health problems such as depression often appear.
According to the report, social media use predicts lower life satisfaction, especially for girls aged 11 to 13 and boys aged 14 and 15.
According to Murthy, there are positive benefits to having access to apps, such as providing community and connecting with others who share similar interests and identities. This is especially valuable for LGBTQ+ youth, who can easily find each other.
Seven of the teenage girls of color said they found positive and affirming content this way. Across all user groups, most American adolescents report that social media helps them feel accepted and supported during difficult times.
But those positive indicators are now being overshadowed by risk factors, the Surgeon General warns. A longitudinal study of 12- to 15-year-olds found that adolescents who spent more than three hours a day on social media were twice as likely to develop mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.
According to 2021 figures, the current average working day for that age group is 3.5 hours a day.
Excessive use of social media can cause compulsive or uncontrollable behavior, can cause sleep disorders, and in turn can lead to changes in the neurological development of the adolescent brain. The advisory states that symptoms of depression and suicidal thoughts may occur.
Murthy is calling on technology companies to be more open with the public and prioritize the health and safety of young users when developing new products. There are also words for his parents.
“It may be impossible or beneficial for all families to stop their children from using social media,” he told The Associated Press. “But setting boundaries around social media use in your child’s life can be very helpful, allowing them protected, technology-free time and space.”