There's not enough evidence to determine whether social media is safe enough for children and adolescents when it comes to their mental health, according to a new advisory from the US surgeon general.
"We're in the middle of a youth mental health crisis, and I'm concerned that social media is contributing to the harm that kids are experiencing," Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy told CNN.
"We must acknowledge the growing body of research about potential harms, increase our collective understanding of the risks associated with social media use, and urgently take action to create safe and healthy digital environments," the advisory says. Social media use presents a risk of exposure to dangerous content, including depictions of self-harm, "which can normalize such behaviors," the advisory says. It also cites 20 studies that found a significant relationship between social media use and body image concerns and eating disorders.
The advisory's summary of potential risks of social media use on youth mental health spans five pages; its description of the potential benefits takes just half a page. It notes that social media can provide positive community and connection with others, which can be especially important for kids who are often marginalized.
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