US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has expressed serious concerns about the impact of social media on youth mental health in a New York Times opinion piece. He suggests that social media apps should have warning labels similar to those on tobacco products. Dr. Murthy highlights that adolescents using social media for more than three hours daily are at double the risk for anxiety and depression, with average use at 4.8 hours per day as of 2023. Nearly half of adolescents report feeling worse about their bodies due to social media.
Murthy calls for a Surgeon General’s warning label to inform parents and adolescents of the potential mental health risks, noting that evidence from tobacco studies shows that such warnings can change behavior. He states that implementing these labels would require congressional action. His endorsement could influence Congress to take steps toward this initiative.
Read more – https://9to5mac.com/2024/06/17/social-media-apps-may-gain-tobacco-style-warning-labels/
