The Surgeon General says there is a mental health crisis among young people, with social media playing a significant role.

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is urging Congress to create legislation that would compel social media firms such as Meta, Twitter, TikTok, and Snap to add digital "warning labels" to their apps and websites. These labels would caution young users about the potential negative impacts that social media can have on their mental health.

Figure 1. Surgeon General Calls for Warning Labels on Social Media Apps.

In an op-ed column for The New York Times on Monday, Murthy highlighted the mental health crisis among young people, attributing social media as a significant contributor. He pointed out that adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of anxiety and depression symptoms. Figure 1 shows surgeon general calls for warning labels on social media apps.

Murthy also called for social media companies to publicly report all health impact data and share it with independent scientists to enhance transparency on the issue. He emphasized that social media has not been proven safe and compared the proposed warning labels to those required on tobacco products since 1965, which have influenced user behavior.

While the labels wouldn't ban social media apps or platforms, they could help users make more informed decisions about their daily habits. Murthy argued that social media lacks adequate safety measures, transparency, and accountability.

What might a social media warning label look like? On websites, it could appear as a pop-up message, similar to web cookie consent pop-ups, providing information about the potential mental health impacts of social media use. In app stores, the warning could be included in the app's description or displayed in fine print on the loading screen upon launch.

While some parents or social media users might appreciate this information, others could find the reminders annoying or see them as unnecessary. If these warning labels were mandated by law, however, it remains unclear how their inclusion would be enforced and which apps would be classified as "social media" under the regulations.

Social media platforms have come under scrutiny this year, facing regulatory hearings and the looming TikTok ban signed by President Biden. TikTok has already filed a lawsuit challenging the ban, leaving the fate of the video-sharing app uncertain. In New York state, two recently passed social media bills aim to restrict children's access to "addictive feeds" and enhance protection of their personal data.

For those looking to reduce their social media screen time or avoid it altogether, there are several options available. These include timed phone lock boxes and apps that can block social media apps from being accessed at specific times. There are also phones like the Light Phone III, which cannot install social media apps and offer a simplified smartphone experience.

Social media platforms have come under scrutiny this year, facing regulatory hearings and the looming TikTok ban signed by President Biden. TikTok has already filed a lawsuit challenging the ban, leaving the fate of the video-sharing app uncertain. In New York state, two recently passed social media bills aim to restrict children's access to "addictive feeds" and enhance protection of their personal data.[1]

For those looking to reduce their social media screen time or avoid it altogether, there are several options available. These include timed phone lock boxes and apps that can block social media apps from being accessed at specific times. There are also phones like the Light Phone III, which cannot install social media apps and offer a simplified smartphone experience.

Social media platforms have come under scrutiny this year, facing regulatory hearings and the looming TikTok ban signed by President Biden. TikTok has already filed a lawsuit challenging the ban, leaving the fate of the video-sharing app uncertain. In New York state, two recently passed social media bills aim to restrict children's access to "addictive feeds" and enhance protection of their personal data.[2]

For those looking to reduce their social media screen time or avoid it altogether, there are several options available. These include timed phone lock boxes and apps that can block social media apps from being accessed at specific times. There are also phones like the Light Phone III, which cannot install social media apps and offer a simplified smartphone experience.

References:

1. https://www.pcmag.com/news/us-surgeon-general-health-warning-label-on-social-media-apps
2. https://edition.cnn.com/2024/06/17/media/surgeon-general-social-media-apps-warning-label/index.html

Cite this article:

Gokila G (2024), Surgeon General Calls for Warning Labels on Social Media Apps, AnaTechMaz, pp. 156