Amidst an ongoing debate on the benefits and harms of social media, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy recently urged Congress to pass legislation mandating warning labels for social media platforms. If that sounds familiar, it’s because the United States already does something similar with tobacco products, like cigarettes.
Dr. Murthy’s concerns stem from the ongoing—and unsettled—debate on whether social media has caused a growing mental health crisis among American youth, a debate that ignores the immense positive impacts of social media connectivity.
Rather than wait for more conclusive information, Surgeon General Murthy joins the chorus of state and federal lawmakers proffering legislation before the dust settles. Just last year, state policymakers in thirty five states introduced legislation with twelve states passing them. But recent studies suggest a more cautious approach.
A recent health advisory from the American Psychological Association (APA) found that social media use is not inherently beneficial or harmful to young people, rather that online activity is often a reflection of their lives in the real world. Emotional connection to social media also matters. Routine use of social media may even positively impact mental health—but emotional attachment to social media use erodes those benefits.
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Trey Price is a policy analyst with the American Consumer Institute, a nonprofit education and research organization. For more information about the Institute, visit us at www.TheAmericanConsumer.Org or follow us on X @ConsumerPal.