Executive summary

US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has called for the implementation of warning labels on social media platforms. This brief will explain the scientific context and legislative future regarding limits on social media for tomorrow's youth.

Background

Earlier this year, Dr. Murthy called for warning labels to be put on social media platforms, emphasizing that young people who spend more than three hours a day on social media have an increased risk of anxiety and depression. He plans to work with lawmakers to ensure that warning labels are mandated and that regulations on current social media features, such as push notifications and ‘infinite’ scrolling, are enforced. The Surgeon General also called upon social media companies, asking them to share data on the health effects of their platforms and encouraging independent safety audit processes. 

‍

History

Current Stances

The idea of placing health warnings on social media platforms has gained significant traction in recent years, primarily stemming from concerns about adolescent development and mental health. Research has consistently proven that excessive usage of social media platforms (Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, etc.) is correlated to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and body image concerns among teens. Murthy has also called attention to these platforms’ privacy violations and harmful content, both of which can be dangerous for younger audiences. It should be noted, though, that many disagree with the Surgeon General’s opinions, instead emphasizing social media’s importance towards collaboration and identity.

This ongoing discourse mirrors historical precedents, particularly the implementation of tobacco warnings in the 1960s. Critics also argue that warning labels would breach free speech rights and are ineffective in addressing the issue, which is why regulatory approaches – such as stronger privacy protections and transparency about data collection practices – have been explored as a neutral alternative.

While social media is critical for interconnectedness in the digital age, its harmful effects cannot be neglected. Continued efforts to mitigate the issue through ethical and legal frameworks are necessary to protect adolescent development.

‍

Policy Problem

The advent of social media use amongst young people within the last decade has led to significant concerns about their harmful and pervasive effects, especially surrounding mental health and the spread of disinformation. According to a report by Yale Medical School, which studied teens ages 12 to 15, those who used social media more than three hours a day “faced twice the risk of having negative mental health outcomes, including depression and anxiety symptoms.” Furthermore, it suggested that social media platforms contribute to other negative outcomes within youth populations, such as “cyberbullying-related depression, body image and disordered eating behaviors, and poor sleep quality linked to social media use.” 

Excessive use of social media among many teenagers has caused them to develop feelings of inadequacy and isolation, often as a result of the counter-productive and toxic discourse these platforms foster. This has perpetuated a cycle of mental health challenges amongst these users, furthered by the lack of a support system for victims of this vicious cycle.  Moreover, online platforms’ algorithms are designed in a way that promotes addiction, with users compulsively checking their notifications and obsessively updating their profiles. Such behaviors have a multitude of negative side effects, including decreased attention span and heightened stress. With these factors in mind, warning systems to inform users beforehand must be implemented to ensure that they can engage with social media in a healthier, more balanced way.

‍

Policy Options

Murthy’s recent call for warning labels on social media reinforces the growing concern about social media’s negative impacts on adolescent mental health. With evidence suggesting that excessive social media usage is linked to anxiety and depression, there is an urgent need for policy intervention. These policy options outline three potential solutions to mitigate the negative impacts of social media on teenagers:

The first option would require social media companies to implement robust age verification systems and enhanced parental control features to provide a first line of defense. These systems would include biometric verification or government-issued ID checks to ensure that users are above the minimum age requirement. Parental control features would allow adults to monitor their children's social media use, set time restrictions, and block inappropriate content. This approach can help reduce exposure to inappropriate material and the mental health risks associated with prolonged social media use, fostering a safer online environment for adolescents​. However, there is widespread opposition to age verification. Some methods, such as face-scanning, have already been rejected by the FEC, so it remains to be seen if accurate identification technology could ever be safely implemented on a large scale.

Another viable option is to introduce legislation requiring social media platforms to conduct regular assessments. These evaluations, conducted by independent bodies, would analyze the effects of platform design, algorithms, and content on users' mental health. Results would be publicly available, and platforms must implement recommended changes to mitigate identified risks. By mandating mental health impact assessments, social media companies will be held accountable for the psychological well-being of their users. This can lead to the redesign of harmful features, such as infinite scroll and autoplay, and the implementation of protective measures like exposure limits to distressing content. Transparency and accountability can drive platforms to prioritize user health, ultimately reducing the adverse mental health outcomes associated with social media use​​.

The final solution is to integrate comprehensive digital literacy and mental health education into school curriculums. Programs should focus on teaching students about the responsible use of social media, recognizing signs of mental health issues, and developing coping strategies. Schools should also provide resources and training for teachers to support students in navigating digital environments safely. Educating young people about the potential risks and benefits of social media use equips them with the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions, leading to healthier social media habits and resilience against negative influences. This proactive approach addresses the root of the problem by fostering a generation of digitally literate and mentally resilient individuals, thereby reducing the long-term impact of social media on adolescent mental health​.

Conclusions

As social media becomes increasingly prevalent among teenagers, health professionals believe that these platforms should require a warning label. This assertion stems from years of research proving the correlation between excessive social media usage and adverse mental health effects. However, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy admits that a warning label alone would not make youth social media safe. He has made specific suggestions for platforms, legislators, and the general public to make social media safer for children. These policies, which now have broad bipartisan support, continue to be the top priority for healthcare providers with similar views of Dr. Murthy. The burden falls upon Congress to consider these recommendations and create policy to effectively support teenagers’ well being.

‍

Acknowledgment

The Institute for Youth in Policy wishes to acknowledge Anagha Nagesh, Megha Madgula, Nolan Ezzet and other contributors for developing and maintaining the Policy Department within the Institute.

References

1. Bickham , David, Elizabeth Hunt , Benoît Bediou, and Micheal Rich. “Adolescent Media Use: Attitudes, Effects, and Online ...” Boston Children’s Digital Wellness Lab, August 2022. https://digitalwellnesslab.org/wp-content/uploads/Pulse-Survey_Adolescent-Attitudes-Effects-and-Experiences.pdf. 
2. “Fact Sheet: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Actions to Protect Youth Mental Health, Safety & Privacy Online.” The White House, February 15, 2024. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/05/23/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-actions-to-protect-youth-mental-health-safety-privacy-online/. 
3. Riehm, Kira, Kenneth Feder, and Kayla Tormohlen. “Associations between Social Media Time and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems among US Youth.” JAMA Psychiatry, December 1, 2019. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2749480. 
4. Rothwell, Jonathan. “Teens Spend Average of 4.8 Hours on Social Media Per Day.” Gallup.com, October 13, 2024. https://news.gallup.com/poll/512576/teens-spend-average-hours-social-media-per-day.aspx. 
5. Smoking cessation: A report of the surgeon general, 2020. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/2020-cessation-sgr-full-report.pdf. 
6. Social Media and Youth Mental Health, 2023. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/sg-youth-mental-health-social-media-advisory.pdf. 

‍

‍