Although social media use by children carries benefits such as increasing connectedness and providing a forum for self-expression, a new advisory from US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD, MBA, warns of potential downsides. [JAMA Network]

Factors such as excessive or compulsive social media use and exposure to violent or sexual content are linked with outcomes including poor sleep quality, anxiety and depression, and body dissatisfaction. “We are in the middle of a national youth mental health crisis, and I am concerned that social media is an important driver of that crisis,” Murthy, who published an advisory calling attention to children’s mental health in December 2021, said in a statement.

The advisory suggests actions that institutions and individuals can take to create healthful social media environments. Policy makers, for example, can enforce age minimums for platforms and back digital and media literacy lessons in schools. Technology companies can develop and evaluate platforms and algorithms with a focus on minimizing risks for children, and families can set aside time to create a family media plan.

Download 27-page report here. 

###