Social Media Is Driving Teen Mental Health Crisis, Surgeon General Warns

Renowned mental health advocate, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, raised the alarm on the impact of social media on adolescent mental health. He emphasizes that the proliferation of social media use is chiefly leading to a surge in issues like depression and anxiety among America’s youth.

Murthy’s latest report, unveiled on Tuesday, shines a spotlight on the rising anxiety about the ramifications of social media engagement on children’s and adolescents’ psychological wellbeing. It advocates for stronger involvement from policymakers and social media companies in assisting parents to control and manage the social media consumption of young people.

Recognizing adolescent mental health as a key public health issue of our era, Murthy urges policymakers to enforce rigorous safety standards to shield youngsters from harmful content and limit their excessive use of social media platforms.

Based on the report, approximately 95% of teenagers aged 13-17 engage with a social media platform. Roughly one-third of them admit to continuous interaction with social media through scrolling, posting, and more.

“We need to take action to ensure our children’s safety on social media as there isn’t sufficient evidence proving its safety,” Murthy argued. “It’s high time to safeguard our children.”

The report collates research highlighting a negative correlation between social media usage and mental health in adolescents. For example, a 2019 study uncovered that teenagers spending over three hours daily on social media platforms face twice the risk of displaying poor mental health symptoms, including signs of depression and anxiety. Explore the full study here.

As per the latest data, students in the eighth and tenth grades reported spending an average of three hours and thirty minutes per day on social media platforms.

Founder of Common Sense Media, Jim Steyer, lauded the advisory as a wake-up call, urging all parents and policymakers to focus on this growing problem.

Popular platforms like TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram are favorites among teens, according to Pew Research Center.

The surgeon general’s caution comes amid a drastic increase in teen depression, sadness, and hopelessness over the last decade, more noticeably among girls.

“Teen depression began to rise around 2012, coinciding with the rise of smartphones and popularity of ‘likes’ on posts,” observed Jean Twenge, a psychology professor at San Diego State University and author of “Generations: The Real Differences between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers and Silents—and What They Mean for America’s Future.”

Twenge further blamed the more sophisticated algorithms designed to keep users hooked onto social media platforms for longer periods.

The report attributed the rise in eating disorders, body dysmorphia, and low self-esteem in teens to excessive social media use. Furthermore, there’s a suggested link between overuse of social media and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in teenagers.

Twenge argues that social media impacts mental health in several ways. Reduced sleep and limited face-to-face social interaction, as well as feelings of exclusion and unhealthy comparison, harm mental health.

“The emotional impact of the perfect selfie, regardless of the intellectual understanding of the effort behind it, can be damaging,” Twenge pointed out.

What’s the Solution?

The surgeon general’s report provided recommendations for both tech companies and lawmakers.

“Policymakers need to impose strict safety standards, safeguarding our children from harmful content and excessive use,” Murthy advised. This includes stricter enforcement of age restrictions.

The report suggests tech companies should design improved tools to protect teenagers and minimize features that entice prolonged online presence.

Parents find themselves on the battleground, helping teens navigate the digital world. The report advises establishing “tech-free” zones at home and initiating conversations about the emotional impact of social media.

“It’s unjust to put all the responsibility on parents. Isn’t it about time that the industry be held accountable for designing addictive platforms?” queried Steyer of Common Sense Media. “A national discussion is urgently needed.”

When Is It Appropriate for Kids to Start Using Social Media?

Tech companies typically set the minimum age for usage at 13 years. Yet, the report revealed that nearly 40% of 8-12-year-olds are using social media.

Murthy contended that even 13 is too young for social media, but acknowledged the lack of data to determine a suitable age.

Twenge proposed that the minimum age should be raised to 16. “If we implement regulations now, we might spare the next generation,” Twenge suggested.

Additional Tips and Ideas:

• Encourage children to engage in physical activities, outdoor play, and face-to-face interaction to balance screen time.
• Educate children and adolescents about the possible negative effects of social media use, teaching them to use it responsibly.
• Set a good example by maintaining healthy social media habits.
• Utilize parental controls and monitoring tools provided by many social media platforms.
• Keep communication lines open. Talk about what they encounter online, their feelings, and the concept of “social media vs. reality.”

For more information, refer to the Surgeon General’s Website.

For data on adolescent social media usage, check this comprehensive study.