The US Surgeon General this week released a report confirming what most people already know: Social media is detrimental to young people's mental health.
Citing adolescence as a critical brain development stage that makes children especially vulnerable to the internet's harms, Dr. Vivek Murthy is calling for "urgent action" by policymakers, tech companies, researchers, families, and young people themselves.
"The most common question parents ask me is, 'Is social media safe for my kids?'" Murthy says. "The answer is that we don't have enough evidence to say it's safe, and in fact, there is growing evidence that social media use is associated with harm to young people's mental health."
Almost universally used by Gen Z (95% of people aged 13 to 17 are on at least once platform), social media has its perks: It can help folks feel accepted, supported, creative, and connected. On the other hand, too much exposure to certain content can become problematic—particularly when it disrupts physical activity and sleep.
"Children are exposed to harmful content on social media, ranging from violent and sexual content, to bullying and harassment," Murthy says. "And for too many children, social media use is compromising their sleep and valuable in-person time with family and friends.
"We are in the middle of a national youth mental health crisis," Murthy adds. "And I am concerned that social media is an important driver of that crisis—one that we must urgently address."
Recommendations for action outlined in the Surgeon General's Advisory include calling for policymakers to "strengthen safety standards and limit access," encouraging tech firms to "more transparently assess the impact of their products on children," and asking researchers to prioritize youth mental health.
It also suggests parents and caregivers establish technology-free zones at home, and that kids adopt their own healthy practices, like limiting time on social media, blocking unwanted contact, and reaching out to a trusted adult if they or a friend experience harassment or abuse online.