Surgeon General wants warning label on social media platforms
Jun 17, 2024, 10:36 AM | Updated: 3:10 pm
In an essay written for the New York Post, the U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, would like social media platforms to carry warning labels similar to those found on tobacco products.
Murthy said social media can be dangerous to the mental health of teenagers, causing anxiety and depression if used for more than three hours daily.
He says warning labels “can increase awareness and change behavior,” prompting parents to limit their children’s access.
Murthy also called on congress to “shield young people from online harassment, abuse and exploitation and from exposure to extreme violence and sexual content”.
Murthy also called for action from parents and schools in the essay regarding cell phones. Murthy called for schools to offer “phone-free experiences,” parents to push “phone-free zones around bedtime, meals and social gatherings,” parents to wait longer to give their children social media access, public health leaders to “demand healthy digital environments for young people” and medical professionals to “raise the issue of social media with kids.”
How do you feel about a warning on social media platforms?
