U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, has expressed concerns about the potential mental health risks that social media networks pose for adolescents. In a recent statement, he urged social media platforms to include health warnings aimed at younger users to raise awareness about these risks.
Murthy’s call for action comes after his office issued an advisory last year on the potential negative effects of social media use on teenage users. In his op-ed published in The New York Times, he urged social media companies to prioritize safety and privacy in their product designs and enforce minimum age requirements to protect the well-being of adolescents.
The surgeon general’s proposal for a warning label on social media platforms aims to inform users about the significant mental health harms that may be associated with excessive use of these networks. By raising awareness about these risks, Murthy hopes to encourage responsible usage of social media among adolescents.
This story is still developing, and updates may follow. Contributions to this report were made by ABC News’ Ahmad Hemingway, Dr. Amanda Kravitz, and Dr. Mariam Gomaa.