SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The U.S. Surgeon General is warning parents about the impacts of social media on their kids, calling the mental health crisis among young people an emergency. In a New York Times opinion piece released Monday, he called for a warning label on platforms saying that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for youth.
The surgeon general's warning label is currently on the side of cigarette boxes and bottles of alcohol, explaining the health impacts of the products.
In the article, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy says that young people who spend more than three hours per day on social media are two times more at risk for developing anxiety or depression. He adds that recent data shows average daily use is 4.8 hours.
"We see a lot of comparison, 'Am I the same as other people?', and that actually can lead to a lot of depression and feeling bad about yourself, really low self-esteem and self-worth. It can show up in eating disorders," said licensed marriage and family therapist Kim McLaughlin.
She adds that it can also lead to thoughts of self-harm.
California lawmakers are considering bills aimed at protecting young people on social media.
State Senator Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley) sponsored SB 976, a bill aimed at protecting kids from social media addiction. It would bar online platforms from sending an addictive social media feed to youth without their parent's consent. The bill would also limit notifications.
"Our top medical doctor, the U.S. Surgeon General, has, for at least the second time, made it clear that the research shows that when our kids are on social media for too long, hours and hours a day, it is affecting their health," Senator Skinner said.
The legislature is also considering social media safety bills sponsored by State Senator Henry Stern. SB 1283 would create policies to limit the use of smart phones on school campuses and SB 1504 is aimed at combating cyberbullying.
"Kids are dying and this is a problem," Senator Stern said. "It's about giving tools to parents and teachers and students themselves to be able to report and say when they're getting bullied and violating even the terms of these platforms."
On Tuesday, Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement, he wants to restrict the use of smartphones during the school day, mentioning the harms to youth mental health.
"When children and teens are in school, they should be focused on their studies — not their screens,” he said.
McLaughlin recommends parents seek out a mental health professional if your kids are dealing with depression, suicidal thoughts or eating disorders.
She also encourages parents to talk to their kids about how they're doing and what they're watching.
"Look through the social media, see what have you been looking at, what videos have you been watching, and we actually watch them together so we get an idea about what our child is looking at and what's going on for them," she said.
She suggests starting the conversation during low stress times for kids, such as during a car ride or before bed.
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