US Surgeon General Calls for Social Media Warning Labels
US Surgeon General Calls for Social Media Warning Labels
The Facts
US Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy has called on the Congress to urgently label social media apps — like cigarettes and alcohol — due to their impact on children.
US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has called on Congress to label social media platforms as it does with cigarettes and alcohol due to their adverse impact on adolescents.
The Spin
Despite social media platforms establishing age minimums, nearly 40% of kids aged 8-12 and 95% aged 13-17 use social media in the US. If a government label will inspire better communication between parents and their wards, they should be added to the platforms. Children must be better protected.
There's no reason to add a warning label to these platforms since there's no evidence that social media considerably impacts teenagers' mental health. Children's mental health issues are more often related to socio-economic factors than social media use itself. The focus must be on how social media is used rather than just the time spent.
