The issue of social media use among young people has been a growing concern for some time now, and recently, Vivek H. Murthy, the U.S. surgeon general, has called for social media platforms to include health warnings specifically aimed at younger users. In an op-ed published in The New York Times, Murthy stated that it is time for social media platforms to have a surgeon general’s warning label that acknowledges the significant mental health risks associated with adolescent use of social media.
Last year, Murthy’s office issued an advisory on the potential negative impacts of social media use on teenagers. In that advisory, he urged social media companies to prioritize safety and privacy in their product designs and enforce minimum age requirements more strictly. While progress has been made in this area, there is still much work to be done to ensure that young people are using social media in a safe and responsible manner.
This issue is still developing, and updates will be provided as they become available. ABC News’ Ahmad Hemingway, Dr. Amanda Kravitz, and Dr. Mariam Gomaa contributed to this report. Copyright © 2024 ABC News Internet Ventures
