Official announcements from the U.S. Surgeon General

U.S. Surgeon General Calls for Warning Labels on Social Media Platforms to Address Adolescents' Mental Health

Jun 17, 2024, 12:06 PM

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has called for Congress to mandate warning labels on social media platforms, similar to those found on tobacco products. Murthy emphasized that social media usage poses significant mental health risks to adolescents, including increased anxiety and depression. He noted that adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of experiencing these symptoms. The Surgeon General's call for action, made on Monday, highlights the urgent need to address the mental health crisis among young people and to inform parents and adolescents about the potential dangers of social media use. This move echoes the efforts of former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, who targeted cigarette usage.