In an op-ed published in The New York Times, Vivek H. Murthy, the US surgeon general, has issued a public call on Monday for social media platforms to implement health warnings specifically targeted at younger users. The surgeon general’s office had previously issued an advisory on social media use and its potential impacts on teenage users, emphasizing the need for social media companies to prioritize safety and privacy in their products and enforce age restrictions.
As this story continues to develop, it is important to stay informed and watch for updates on this topic. Ahmad Hemingway, Dr. Amanda Kravitz, and Dr. Mariam Gomaa have also played a role in reporting on this issue.
In his op-ed, Murthy highlighted the potential harms of social media on the mental well-being of teenagers. He urged social media platforms to take action by implementing health warnings specifically tailored for younger users. Murthy proposed that a surgeon general’s warning label be displayed on social media platforms, emphasizing the significant mental health risks associated with social media use among adolescents.