The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, wants Congress to make social media platforms put warning labels on their sites, just like the ones on cigarette boxes. He thinks social media is partly to blame for the mental health problems many young people are facing.
In an opinion piece he wrote for The New York Times, Dr. Murthy said, “A surgeon general’s warning label, which requires congressional action, would regularly remind parents and adolescents that social media has not been proved safe.” He believes that warning labels could help people understand the risks and maybe even change their behavior, like they did with tobacco.
Almost all teenagers use social media, and more than a third say they use it “almost constantly.” Josh Golin, who leads an organization that wants to stop companies from marketing to kids, agrees with Dr. Murthy. He said, “Social media today is like tobacco decades ago: It’s a product whose business model depends on addicting kids.”
Last year, Dr. Murthy warned that there wasn’t enough proof that social media is safe for kids and teens. He thinks lawmakers should regulate social media the same way they do things like car seats and baby formula.
Social media companies already have rules saying kids under 13 can’t sign up, but many still find ways to do it. They’ve also tried other things, like TikTok’s 60-minute time limit for users under 18, but kids can easily get around it.
Dr. Murthy thinks we need to take the impact of social media on young people more seriously. He wants Congress to pass laws that protect kids from online dangers like harassment, abuse, violence, and inappropriate content. He also thinks social media companies should have to share their data on health effects and allow independent safety checks.
In Europe, they already have new rules called the Digital Services Act to keep people safer online. Companies that break these rules could face big fines or even get banned from the European Union.
Dr. Murthy says schools, parents, and doctors need to help too, by encouraging kids to spend time away from their phones.
He believes it will take everyone working together to really make a difference.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.