U.S. Surgeon General Report: Understanding the Impact of Social Media on Teen Mental Health
In light of the recent call by the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, we found it important to revisit the profound impact social media can have on teen mental health. Here at Well Mind Body, we have seen first-hand how social media can negatively affect adolescent mental health.
Dr. Murthy's proposal aims to raise awareness among parents and guardians about the potential risks linked with excessive social media use by adolescents.
Key Insights from Dr. Murthy’s Proposal
Warning Labels: Dr. Murthy suggests that Congress should mandate warning labels on social media platforms, drawing parallels with the effectiveness of labels on tobacco and alcohol products.
Statistics and Research:
Teens spending over three hours daily on social media are at double the risk of depression and anxiety.
The average U.S. teen spends about 4.8 hours a day on social media.
Legislative Action: The proposal includes requiring tech companies to share internal data on health impacts, allowing independent safety audits, and restricting features like autoplay and infinite scroll that encourage prolonged use.
Broader Context: While some debate social media as the primary cause of the mental health crisis, other factors such as economic hardship and social isolation also contribute significantly.
Social media use comes with many potential risk factors and is associated with poor mental health outcomes in adolescents.
Marengo et al., (2022) found that data from several longitudinal studies confirmed that smartphone and social media use among teenagers relates to an increase in mental distress, self-harming behaviors, and suicidality.
Potential risks of social media include (Alhammad et al., 2022; Maurya et al., 2022; Shabahang et al., 2024; Weigle & Shafi, 2024):
Exposure to harmful or inappropriate content (e.g., sex, drugs, violence, etc.)
Exposure to online predators
Possible identity theft, oversharing personal information such as location
Privacy concerns including the collection of data about teen users
Mental Health Concerns:
Increased use correlates with higher levels of anxiety and depression.
Cyber bullying- which is a known risk factor for depression and suicide
Sleep Disruption:
Interference with sleep, exercise, homework, or family activities
The blue light from screens disrupts circadian rhythms, leading to poor sleep quality.
Decreased Physical Health:
Less physical activity, especially among girls, leads to poorer health perceptions and lower life satisfaction.
Addictive Tendencies:
Excessive social media use has been shown to promote addictive tendencies towards social platforms such at Instagram and Twitter, with negative consequences for adolescents' overall well-being .
Action Steps for Parents and Guardians
Set Limits: Restrict social media use, especially during critical times like meals and bedtime.
Phone-Free Zones: Create areas and times where phones and social media are not allowed.
Collaboration with Other Parents: Establish shared rules and guidelines with other families for consistency.
Legislative Support
Bipartisan support for initiatives like the Kids Online Safety Act emphasizes the need for legislative measures to protect minors online. This act mandates platforms to implement various safety measures but does not currently include warning labels.
Conclusion
The Surgeon General’s push for warning labels on social media is a critical step towards addressing the mental health crisis among adolescents. By raising awareness and advocating for regulatory changes, we can create a safer digital environment for our youth. For more insights and detailed guidance on managing social media use among teens, visit our blog, The Wellspring at www.WellMindBody.co.
References
Alhammad, M., Aljedani, R., Alsaleh, M., Atyia, N., Alsmakh, M., Alfaraj, A., Alkhunaizi, A., Alwabari, J., & Alzaidi, M. (2022). Family, Individual, and Other Risk Factors Contributing to Risk of Substance Abuse in Young Adults: A Narrative Review. Cureus. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.32316
Marengo, D., Angelo Fabris, M., Longobardi, C., & Settanni, M. (2022). Smartphone and social media use contributed to individual tendencies towards social media addiction in Italian adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Addictive Behaviors, 126, 107204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107204
Maurya, C., Muhammad, T., Dhillon, P., & Maurya, P. (2022). The effects of cyberbullying victimization on depression and suicidal ideation among adolescents and young adults: A three year cohort study from India. BMC Psychiatry, 22(1), 599. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-022-04238-x
Shabahang, R., Shim, H., Aruguete, M. S., & Zsila, Á. (2024). Oversharing on Social Media: Anxiety, Attention-Seeking, and Social Media Addiction Predict the Breadth and Depth of Sharing. Psychological Reports, 127(2), 513–530. https://doi.org/10.1177/00332941221122861
Weigle, P. E., & Shafi, R. M. A. (2024). Social Media and Youth Mental Health. Current Psychiatry Reports, 26(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-023-01478-w
For further reading, please refer to the original articles:
