Social media’s impact on children’s mental health – US Surgeon General calls for age restrictions and protective measures

Vivek Murthy has raised concern that social media can have a negative impact on children’s mental health, and a minimum age limit should be set to prevent this.

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Vivek Murthy, Surgeon General of the United States, has raised worry that social media harms children’s mental health. On the other hand, he recognised that social networks benefit youngsters by enabling them to communicate more freely and keep up with current events.

Social media can harm adolescents’ self-confidence and mental health; a minimum age limit should be set to prevent this. Deputies in the House of Representatives and Senate support this proposal.

To sign up for an account on sites like Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and Snapchat, a potential user must be at least 13 years old. Children under 13 can use TikTok, but their user experience is limited. Between the ages of 10 and 19, individuals are more vulnerable to danger and are at a higher risk of developing mental health disorders such as depression. Dr Harold S. Koplewicz, president and medical director of the Child Mind Institute, stated that stress and anxiety might have long-term consequences.

In February, Hawley presented two bills to protect children online. The first is the Making Age-Verification Technology Uniform, Robust, and Effective (MATURE) Act, and the second is the Federal Social Media Research Act. Specific safety measures and reports will be developed in light of children’s susceptibility.