Social media is driving teen mental health crisis, surgeon general warns

Social media is driving teen mental health crisis, surgeon general warns

Noted mental health advocate, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, warned about the impact of social media on the mental health of youth. He emphasizes that the increasing use of social media is primarily leading to an increase in problems such as depression and anxiety among American youth.

Murthy's latest report, released on Tuesday, highlights increasing concerns about the impact of social media engagement on the mental wellbeing of children and young people. She advocates for greater involvement of policymakers and social media companies to help parents control and manage young people's social media consumption.

Recognizing youth mental health as a key health issue of our time, Murthy urges policymakers to enforce strict safety standards to protect youth from harmful content and limit their excessive use of social media platforms.

According to the report, about 95% of teens aged 13 to 17 are engaged on a social media platform. About a third of them admit to continually interacting with social media through scrolling, posting, and more.

“We need to take measures to ensure the safety of our children on social media as there is insufficient evidence on the safety of this media,” Murthy argued. “It is high time to protect our children.”

The report summarizes research that highlights a negative association between social media use and mental health among adolescents. For example, a 2019 study found that teenagers who spend more than three hours a day on social media platforms are twice as likely to experience poor mental health symptoms, including signs of depression and anxiety. Discover the full study here.

According to the latest data, eighth and tenth grade students spend an average of three hours and thirty minutes per day on social media platforms.

Common Sense Media founder Jim Steyer praised the recommendation as a wake-up call and urged all parents and policymakers to focus on this growing problem. Popular platforms like TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram are popular among teens, according to the Pew Research Center.

The surgeon general's caution comes amid a dramatic increase in depression, sadness and hopelessness among teenagers over the past decade, especially girls.

“Around 2012, teen depression began to rise, coinciding with the advent of smartphones and the 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.” America’s future.”

Twenge also blamed more sophisticated algorithms designed to keep users on social media platforms for longer periods of time.

The report attributed the rise in eating disorders, body dysmorphia and low self-esteem among teenagers to excessive social media use. Additionally, there is a suspected link between excessive social media use and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in teenagers.

Twenge argues that social media affects mental health in several ways. Reduced sleep and limited in-person social interaction, as well as feelings of exclusion and unhealthy comparisons, are damaging to mental health.

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

What is the solution?

The surgeon general's report included recommendations for both tech companies and lawmakers.

“Policymakers need to implement strict safety standards to protect our children from harmful content and excessive usage,” Murthy advised. This also includes stricter enforcement of age restrictions.

The report suggests that tech companies should develop improved tools to protect teens and minimize features that encourage prolonged online presence.

Parents are on the battlefield helping teens navigate the digital world. The report recommends creating “tech-free” zones at home and starting conversations about the emotional impact of social media.

"It's unfair to put all the responsibility on parents. Isn't it time the industry was held accountable for developing addictive platforms?" asked Steyer of Common Sense Media. “A nationwide discussion is urgently needed.”

When is it appropriate for children to start using social media?

Technology companies typically set the minimum age of use at 13 years old. Still, the report found that nearly 40% of 8- to 12-year-olds use social media.

Murthy argued that even 13 is too young for social media, but acknowledged that there is a lack of data to determine an appropriate age.

Twenge suggested raising the minimum age to 16. “If we implement regulations now, we could spare the next generation,” suggested Twenge.

Additional tips and ideas:

• • Ermutigen Sie Kinder zu körperlichen Aktivitäten, Spielen im Freien und persönlicher Interaktion, um die Zeit vor dem Bildschirm auszugleichen.
  • Informieren Sie Kinder und Jugendliche über die möglichen negativen Auswirkungen der Nutzung sozialer Medien und bringen Sie ihnen einen verantwortungsvollen Umgang damit bei.
  • Gehen Sie mit gutem Beispiel voran, indem Sie gesunde Social-Media-Gewohnheiten pflegen.
  • Nutzen Sie Kindersicherungs- und Überwachungstools, die von vielen Social-Media-Plattformen bereitgestellt werden.
  • Halten Sie die Kommunikationswege offen. Sprechen Sie über das, was ihnen online begegnet, ihre Gefühle und das Konzept „Social Media vs. Realität“.