Social Media: The Silent Saboteur of Youth Mental Health

Why are we letting social media giants prioritize profit over our children's mental health?

Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy has called for a surgeon general’s warning label on social media platforms, highlighting their significant mental health risks for adolescents. With teens averaging 4.8 hours daily on social media, studies link this usage to doubled risks of anxiety and depression. Murthy's proposal is a wake-up call: while these platforms claim safety improvements, we need proof, not promises.

Murthy's warning isn't just about labels but a broader call for legislative action. He urges regulators to shield young users from online harassment, exposure to extreme content, and exploitative features. Murthy also advocates for companies to disclose health impact data and undergo independent audits, ensuring genuine transparency.

However, I think we should go a lot further and implement a global ban for children under 16 to access social media.

As we did with seatbelt laws for cars, it’s time to implement stringent safety measures for social media, protecting our children’s mental health and well-being.

Read the full article on New York Times.

----

💡 We're entering a world where intelligence is synthetic, reality is augmented, and the rules are being rewritten in front of our eyes.

Staying up-to-date in a fast-changing world is vital. That is why I have launched Futurwise; a personalized AI platform that transforms information chaos into strategic clarity. With one click, users can bookmark and summarize any article, report, or video in seconds, tailored to their tone, interests, and language. Visit Futurwise.com to get started for free!