Social media may pose "profound risk" to teen mental health, Surgeon General says
CBSN
U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy is calling for stronger guidelines for social media use among children and teens, pointing to a growing body of research that the platforms may pose what he described as a "profound risk" to young people's mental health.
In a report issued on Tuesday, Murthy urged technology companies and lawmakers to take "immediate action" by formulating policies to protect young people from "addictive apps and extreme and inappropriate content" on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat. Current guidelines on social media use have been shaped by media platforms and are inadequate, he added.
"Our children and adolescents don't have the luxury of waiting years until we know the full extent of social media's impact," Murthy said in the 25-page advisory. "Their childhoods and development are happening now."
