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There is “reason to be concerned” about the potential harm social media inflicts on children and adolescents, the U.S. surgeon general said Tuesday in an advisory that calls for deeper research into the consequences of near-universal use of the platforms among young people.
Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s 25-page advisory said there are some benefits to social media for teens and adolescents, including self-expression and a sense of connection among LGBT persons or those with disabilities.
“However, increasingly, evidence is indicating there is reason to be concerned about the risk of harm social media use poses to children and adolescents,” the advisory said. “Children and adolescents on social media are commonly exposed to extreme, inappropriate, and harmful content, and those who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of poor mental health including experiencing symptoms of depression and anxiety.
