In a New York Times opinion essay Monday, the Surgeon General called for social media companies to be compelled to put safety warning labels on their platforms — just like the ones on tobacco and alcohol products.
With research showing the social media is creating disastrous effects on mental health among adolescents, a warning on all social media could alert parents to the potential harm.
“One of the worst things for a parent is to know your children are in danger yet be unable to do anything about it,” Murthy wrote. “That is how parents tell me they feel when it comes to social media — helpless and alone in the face of toxic content and hidden harms.”
Studies show that many teens suffer from depression and anxiety, much of which can be traced back to their social media use.
