In 1982, the then chief surgeon K. Everett Koop warned that video games could be dangerous to young people's health, a statement said Later he returned on footadmitting that it has no scientific basis.
These days, politicians at the state and federal levels are sounding the alarm about the need to protect children from the harmful effects of social media such as TikTok, Instagram And YouTube.
In June, the Chief Surgeon Vivek H. Murthy called for warning signs — like those on cigarettes and alcohol — on social media platforms to warn users that the platforms can harm children's mental health. The move would require congressional action.
Separately, The Senate approved bipartisan Children's Internet Safety Act and the accompanying bill, Children's and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act, July 30th. And at least 30 states have pending legislation concerning children and social media, including age restrictions, parental consent requirements and new digital and media literacy courses for primary and secondary school students – again with a focus on protecting children’s mental well-being.
Some studies have found only an association between social media use and mental health outcomes. But there are no scientific studies yet that establish a causal link between social media use and anxiety, depression or other adverse mental health outcomes, says National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and others.
Focus on harm leads to ignoring risks potential benefits of social mediasaid Linda CharmaramanResearch Fellow and Director of the Laboratory for Research on Youth, Media and Well-Being in Wellesley Centers for Women.
Charmaraman has published research shows that for some teens who don't see themselves as widely represented in society, especially those who are LGBTQ+ or racial or ethnic minorities, social media can help them connect with others.
“If you take away something from someone that could save their life by reducing loneliness and isolation, it could do more harm than good,” Charmaraman said.
“It would have a much more lasting effect if the chief medical officer talked about prevention, knowledge and education rather than 'there's this bad product out there and we need to warn you',” she said.
Some studies suggest that algorithmically-driven content can distort reality and spread misinformation; incessant notifications are distracting and disruptive to sleep; and the anonymity the sites offer can fuel cyberbullying. And there are studies that link social media use to anxiety and depression.
However, scientists say much of the effect of social media may depend on the content children consume. Jenny Radeskypediatrician and co-director American Academy of Pediatrics Centre of Excellence in Social Media and Youth Mental Health.
Radesky said she supported Murthy's call for warning signs.
“It's really just asking families to put on the brakes and ask, 'Is this what my kids need right now?'” she said.
Like her colleagues and the National Academies, Radesky believes more research is needed to establish a causal link between social media use and poor mental health among young people, especially those kids whose moods correlate with their use of the platforms.
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