by Grace Bennett
Oxbridge Academy
Social media is a dominating factor in people’s lives, especially teenagers. This domination has sparked the debate on whether social media should bear warning symbols like those on drugs and alcohol.
“The mental health crisis among young people is an emergency — and social media has emerged as an important contributor,” Surgeon General Vivek Murthy wrote in a guest editorial in The New York Times.
Murthy feels strongly that social media is just as harmful to children as drugs and alcohol; he demands they be labeled and placed in the same category. Murthy presented his case to Congress with a firm belief that they must protect the children of America.
According to a CNN article, Murthy said, “The threat social media poses to children requires urgent action,” and he demanded Congress to put a label on the apps as it does with cigarettes and alcohol.
Murthy cited multiple studies showing that the more time teens spend on social media, the more likely they are to deal with depression. Murthy is passionate about warning parents of their child’s struggles due to social media.
Murthy is not the only figure who believes social media is an epidemic for children in America right now. Sandy Hook Promise CEO Nicole Hockley, who successfully won a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against social media conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, also supports a warning label. “Young people are biologically more vulnerable to social media influencers and advertising, and more likely to engage in impulsive and risky behavior.”
“We stand with the US Surgeon General on requesting a warning label and demand bipartisan action to regulate the content that youth under age 18 are exposed to online,” she said in an interview with Mother Jones.
Social media has been a topic of discussion for decades now. Doctors are not the only people who feel it negatively affects children. Monis Alam, a social media expert with the Council of Fashion Designers of America, said it is designed to be addictive.
“As social media experts, we focus and obsess over our audience, crafting stories and chasing viral content for engagement. It is safe to say that we must protect our youth against marketing tactics whose sole goal is influencing them to engage and transact.”
Catherine Bennet, a teenager’s parent, said she shares people’s concerns about social media’s impact on children. “As a parent, I’m deeply troubled by the data on the effects of social media on kids and teenagers. I support the Surgeon General’s call for warning labels on social media platforms — and tools parents and educators can use to help protect kids’ privacy, safety, and mental health, which is helpful.”
After the many news reports and evidence presented by the Surgeon General and others, it is apparent that social media will create a more considerable downfall if warnings are not implemented soon. Parents and educators must be made aware of the issues presented to Congress. Murthy is confident legislators will pass bills, and the children of America will be protected.
“I put forward this call for a warning because I think it’s essential that parents know what we now know,” he said, “which is that there are significant harms associated with social media use.”
Rock Star Writers Blog 