‘Moral Test for Society’: Surgeon General Calls For Social Media to Require Warning Labels

 (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy called for social media platforms to be required to issue regular notifications to users warning of the product’s potential to harm mental health, in an idea modeled on the effectiveness of tobacco packaging health warnings.

Dr. Murthy called for immediate action in a New York Times editorial published Monday and blamed social media as a major contributor to the emergency mental health crisis among young people.

“Adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of anxiety and depression symptoms, and the average daily use in this age group, as of the summer of 2023, was 4.8 hours,” the Surgeon General wrote.

He continued: “While the platforms claim they are making their products safer, Americans need more than words. We need proof… One of the worst things for a parent is to know your children are in danger yet be unable to do anything about it. That is how parents tell me they feel when it comes to social media — helpless and alone in the face of toxic content and hidden harms.”

Dr. Murthy appealed to Congress for “a surgeon general’s warning label” that “would regularly remind parents and adolescents that social media has not been proved safe.”

In a more expansive solution, Dr. Murthy also advocated for comprehensive legislation to protect young people from online harassment, exploitation, and exposure to harmful content. He argued that this should include restricting data collection from children and curbing features like autoplay and infinite scroll that promote excessive use.

The Surgeon General also urged parents to create phone-free zones and delay social media access until after middle school. He said that schools, healthcare providers, and public health leaders all play a part in creating safer digital environments.

“The moral test of any society is how well it protects its children,” Dr. Murthy concluded. “We have the expertise, resources, and tools to make social media safe for our kids. Now is the time to act.”