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US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has officially called for a warning label on social media apps to notify users of the potential harm social media can cause.

In an opinion piece for The New York Times, he advocated for a surgeon general’s warning label on social media platforms, likening it to the warnings on tobacco and alcohol products. He wrote, “It is time to require a surgeon general’s warning label on social media platforms, stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents. A surgeon general’s warning label, which requires congressional action, would regularly remind parents and adolescents that social media has not been proved safe.”

Despite his call, Murthy stressed that warning labels alone would not be the only solution to make social media safer for younger people. He also called for social media companies to undergo independent safety audits and requested lawmakers to craft legislation to protect young people from online harassment, abuse, and the exposure of “harmful content.” He demanded that social media companies share their data and undergo independent safety audits.

A call for parents:
In addition to advocating for new laws and initiatives to audit social media companies, the surgeon general also said that parents had the biggest role in combatting social media’s negative impacts. Murthy called on parents to create “phone-free” environments during special times, such as during meals, at social gatherings, or even before bed.

Digging Deeper:
Various reports conducted by medical professionals and think tanks over the years have revealed that social media has played a significant role in the increase of depression in the United States. A 2019 report by the American Medical Association found that teenagers who spent at least three hours a day on social media were twice as likely to have some depression.

This comes as some states, including Florida and New York, have already taken action to implement rules that safeguard children from social media. In Florida, a new law signed by Governor Desantis bans children under 14 from using social media platforms and requires parents to consent for 14- and 15-year-olds to use a social media app. In New York, legislation has been passed to prevent minors from being exposed to content that is made to be addictive.