Social media platforms should come with warning labels similar to those attached to alcohol and cigarettes, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy wrote in an essay published Monday in The New York Times.
Murthy said social media use has been an "important contributor" to the nation's worsening teen mental health crisis. The move would require approval by Congress.
"There is no seatbelt for parents to click, no helmet to snap in place, no assurance that trusted experts have investigated and ensured that these platforms are safe for our kids," Murthy wrote in The New York Times essay. "There are just parents and their children, trying to figure it out on their own, pitted against some of the best product engineers and most well-resourced companies in the world."
Schools also have been struggling with creating healthy boundaries between social media and students, with some school systems banning cellphone use during the school day. Many school districts and states have sued social media companies, claiming their algorithms intentionally target adolescents and keep them on the platforms — and thereby worsening students' mental health and draining school resources.
Only 48% of schools say they can effectively provide mental health services to all students who need them, according to data released by the National Center for Education Statistics in May. Limited staffing and funding are hampering schools' efforts to address mental well-being, the NCES survey found.
Social media companies have defended their practices and say their apps contain tools to help teens and their families limit unhealthy online behaviors.
