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Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, a long-time supporter of mental health awareness, has issued a warning that social media use is a significant contributor to depression, anxiety and other problems amongst teenagers within the country.
The report, published on Tuesday, highlights growing concerns concerning the impact of social media use on the mental health of youngsters and young people. The advisor calls on policy makers and firms that create social media platforms to share with parents the burden of managing children and young people’s use of social media.
Murthy calls youth mental health the “defining public health issue of our time”, urging policy makers to assist ensure high safety standards to assist protect teens and teenagers from exposure to harmful content and excessive use.
In keeping with the report, as many as 95% of teenagers between the ages of 13 and 17 say they use a social media platform. Around a 3rd say they scroll, post or otherwise engage on social media “almost consistently”.
“At this point, we haven’t got enough evidence to say with certainty that social media is protected enough for our kids,” Murthy said in an interview. “We want to take motion now to be sure we protect our kids.”
The report links research that links social media use to teenage poor mental health, similar to a 2019 study that found teens who spent greater than three hours a day on social media “were twice as prone to have poor scores in mental health, including symptoms. depression and anxiety.”
Since last yr, eighth and tenth graders surveyed said they spend much more time on these platforms every day: a median of three hours and half-hour.
Jim Steyer, founding father of Common Sense Media, a company that advocates for laws and policies to make the media more child-friendly, said the recommendation was “absolutely spot on” and “must be a call for clarification for each parent on this country, every decision maker’ that we want to pay attention and use resources on this effort.
In keeping with the Pew Research Center, the most well-liked social media platforms amongst teens are TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram.
The Surgeon General’s warning against social media comes as rates of depression, sadness and hopelessness in teens have skyrocketed over the past decade, especially amongst girls.
“Teenage depression began to choose up around 2012, a time that coincides with the recognition of smartphones,” said Jean Twenge, a professor of psychology at San Diego State University and writer of Generations: The Real Differences between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers and Silents – and what they mean for America’s future”.
Twenge also said that “likes” on posts became commonplace and algorithms began to change into more sophisticated to maintain people on social media for longer. That is in fact not a coincidence.”
The Surgeon General’s report also blamed social media for perpetuating eating disorders, body dysmorphia and low self-esteem. Some evidence also suggests a possible link between excessive use of social media and a spotlight deficit hyperactivity disorder in adolescents.
Twenge said social media can affect mental health in alternative ways. She said each sleep and face-to-face social interactions are useful for mental health, but when kids are online once they must be in bed or hanging out with friends, that is an issue.
Feeling unnoticed and comparing yourself to others will also be harmful.
“Despite the fact that on an mental level you understand they might need taken 200 selfies to get the proper one,” Twenge said, “on an emotional level it’s not likely processed.”
What will be done?
The Surgeon General’s report includes recommendations for each tech firms and lawmakers.
“Policy makers have to step up and help ensure now we have high safety standards to guard our kids from exposure to harmful content in addition to protect them from excessive use,” Murthy said. This includes the enforcement of age minimums.
Firms are advised to create higher tools to guard teens and loosen up features that encourage children to remain online longer.
Parents are actually on the front lines of attempting to help teens navigate the net world. The report encourages carers to create “tech-free” zones in the house and confer with children about how they feel about using social media.
“It’s really unfair to place the responsibility on the parents themselves. Why is not the industry liable for creating platforms and creating rather more addictive features?” Steyer of Common Sense Media said. “There must be a serious national discussion.”
How old should kids be before they begin using social media?
Most tech firms require users to be a minimum of 13 years old. But nearly 40% of 8- to 12-year-olds use social media, in response to the report.
Murthy said he thought even a 13-year-old was too young to be on social media, but said there was not enough data to suggest what age can be appropriate.
Twenge suggested that the minimum age must be set at 16.
“Let’s introduce some laws now to assist children who are usually not yet using social media,” said Twenge. “Possibly we are able to save the following generation.”