Surgeon General Issues New Advisory About Effects of Social Media on Youth Mental Health

United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a new Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health.

With adolescence and childhood representing a critical stage in brain development that can make young people more vulnerable to harms from social media, the Surgeon General is issuing a call for urgent action by policymakers, technology companies, researchers, families, and young people alike to gain a better understanding of the full impact of social media use, minimize the harms of social media platforms, and create safer, healthier habits for children.

“The most common question parents ask me is, ‘is social media safe for my kids’. The answer is that we don't have enough evidence to say it's safe, and in fact, there is growing evidence that social media use is associated with harm to young people’s mental health,” said U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. “Children are exposed to harmful content on social media, ranging from violent and sexual content, to bullying and harassment. And for too many children, social media use is compromising their sleep and valuable in-person time with family and friends. We are in the middle of a national youth mental health crisis, and I am concerned that social media is an important driver of that crisis – one that we must urgently address.”

This is why policymakers are increasingly taking steps to strengthen safety standards and limit access to social media in school by partnering with Yondr. And now with the introduction of the Home Tray, parents and caregivers can make tech-free zones in the household that better foster in-person relationships and give children the balance they desperately need.