On Tuesday, the nation’s top health official made an uncommon public statement about the dangers that social media poses to young people, calling for increased research into the potential “harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.”
The consequences of social media on teenage mental health are not fully known, but certain users of social media may benefit from it, according to a 19-page guideline from the US surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy. “There are ample indicators,” he concluded, “that social media can also have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.”
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Report helps in regulating Social Media:
The report included helpful suggestions for assisting parents in regulating their children’s use of the same. To foster social connections and encourage dialogue, it was advised that families refrain from using electronic devices at meals and other in-person meetings. It recommended drafting a “family media plan” to define social media usage guidelines, such as content restrictions and maintaining the privacy of personal data.
Dr. Murthy also urged tech businesses to provide default settings for kids that adhere to strict privacy and safety requirements. Additionally, he called on the government to establish age-appropriate health and safety requirements for technological platforms. According to Dr. Murthy, adolescents “are not just smaller adults,” in a Monday interview. They are going through a different stage of growth and a crucial stage of brain development.
Dangerous for both Children and Adults:
The report came at a time when state and federal lawmakers, many of whom were reared in an era when social media hardly existed or didn’t exist at all, have been battling with how to establish limits on its use. It effectively elevated long-simmering worries around media in the national debate. Socials anyway is dangerous these days not just for children but adults. The easily available content which is also very addictive poses a threat to people’s mental health. People are advised to regulate their use of social media as well as of the young ones around them.
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