U.S. Surgeon General: We need to protect kids from social media risks immediately
Summary
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned in a new advisory Tuesday that widespread social media use among kids and teens poses a significant mental health risk that needs to be addressed immediately. Such advisories are "reserved for significant public health challenges that require the nations immediate awareness and action," according to a report released by the Surgeon Generals office. The report says that social media use in kids and teens can result in both "heightened emotional sensitivity" that can lead to lower life satisfaction as well as positive spaces of community, information and self-expression. "At a moment when we are experiencing a national youth mental health crisis, now is the time to act swiftly and decisively to protect children and adolescents from risk of harm." The Surgeon General lays out several recommendations for policymakers, tech companies, parents and caregivers, young social media users and researchers.