The U.S. surgeon general warned Tuesday of the potential risks of social media to young people, and urged policy makers and technology companies to strengthen standards for adolescents.
Dr. Vivek Murthy’s office said a growing body of research shows the detrimental effects of social media on adolescents. The office’s public advisory said more research is needed to better understand the effects of social media on children and teens.
The advisory noted the benefits of social media, including its use as an outlet for creativity and for finding community. But, the report said, “there are ample indicators that social media can also have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.”
“We are in the middle of a national youth mental health crisis, and I am concerned that social media is an important driver of that crisis—one that we must urgently address,” Murthy said