Surgeon General Vivek Murthy calls for a warning label on social media platforms, citing mental health risks for adolescents. Despite some benefits, like social support and information seeking, the potential harms, such as cyberbullying and exposure to discrimination, are also present. Researchers note that the evidence linking social media to mental health issues in children is not strong. They question whether a warning label would capture the nuances of the research. Prior successful public health interventions had strong evidence, unlike the current evidence base for social media warnings. Some experts suggest addressing specific issues like privacy protection and sexual content warnings rather than a blanket warning label. Teens are aware of the risks but also report positive impacts from social media.
Source link
Surgeon general’s social media warning draws praise, pushback
