As we continue to grapple with the pediatric mental health crisis, the physicians of the Massachusetts Medical Society applaud the leadership of U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy in proposing nicotine-like warning labels on social media platforms, which can help mitigate the harmful impact of social media has on children and teens. The surgeon general’s call aligns with thoughtful legislation previously filed by Sen. Edward Markey.
There is significant evidence and data to draw a correlation between social media use and depression and suicide in young people. The American Academy of Pediatrics in 2021 declared a national emergency in children’s mental health, and social media use is a primary driver of this crisis, with teenagers spending up to five hours per day on various platforms. Social media platforms are ground zero for peer-to-peer bullying, which can include exposure to hateful speech and ideology. Too often platforms conduct business with advertisers who intentionally target vulnerable and impressionable child and teen social media users with advertising and marketing of products that relate to body image, alcohol, tobacco, gambling, and violence.
Dr. Murthy’s proposed warning labels are critical not just to educate about the dangers of the medium, but also to leverage social media’s prevalence and popularity with children and teens to promote the availability of mental health services and to encourage the youngest users to engage in conversation about their mental well-being. We support this initiative to help keep children safe and supported when using social media and urge Congress and social media companies to do the same.
-Hugh Taylor, MD, President, Massachusetts Medical Society
