Congressional hearing schedule and records

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy Urges Congress for Social Media Warning Labels to Protect Adolescents' Mental Health

Jun 17, 2024, 01:50 PM

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has called on Congress to mandate warning labels on social media platforms, similar to those required on cigarette packaging. On Monday, Murthy's recommendation aims to address the growing mental health crisis among adolescents, which he attributes in part to excessive social media use. He highlighted that adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of anxiety and depression symptoms. Murthy emphasized that these harms are not a failure of willpower or parenting but are linked to the platforms themselves. He compared the proposed labels to those used for tobacco and alcohol, which have been effective in raising awareness and changing behavior. This call for action underscores the urgent need to protect young people's mental health in the digital age. Murthy noted that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents.