{"id":73279,"date":"2024-06-24T00:07:04","date_gmt":"2024-06-24T04:07:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world.edu\/?p=73279"},"modified":"2024-06-24T00:07:04","modified_gmt":"2024-06-24T04:07:04","slug":"surgeon-generals-call-for-warning-labels-on-social-media-underscores-concerns-for-teen-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/surgeon-generals-call-for-warning-labels-on-social-media-underscores-concerns-for-teen-mental-health\/","title":{"rendered":"Surgeon general\u2019s call for warning labels on social media underscores concerns for teen mental health"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

Amid growing concerns over the effects of social media on teen mental health, on June 17, 2024,\u00a0U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called for warning labels<\/a>\u00a0to be added to social media platforms, similar to\u00a0surgeon general warnings on cigarettes<\/a>\u00a0and alcohol.<\/p>\n

Murphy\u2019s warning cited research showing that teens who use more than three hours of social media a day face\u00a0double the risk of mental health problems<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This comes a year after Murphy\u00a0issued a major public advisory <\/a>\u00a0over the links between social media and youth mental health.<\/p>\n

As a\u00a0specialist in eating disorders and anxiety<\/a>, I regularly work with clients who experience eating disorder symptoms, self-esteem issues and anxiety\u00a0related to social media<\/a>.<\/p>\n

I also\u00a0have firsthand experience with this topic<\/a>: I am 16 years post-recovery from an eating disorder, and as a teenager, I grew up when people were beginning to widely use social media. In my view, the impact of social media on mental health, especially on diet and exercise patterns, cannot simply be mitigated with a warning label. However, it is an important starting point for raising awareness of the harms of social media.<\/p>\n