Vivek Murthy says there is a need to remind teens and parents about the adverse effects of social media on mental health. The top medical official in the United States has called on Congress to add a warning label to social media websites, similar to the warning labels found on cigarette packaging. "It is time to require a surgeon general's warning label on social media platforms, stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents," Murthy wrote. "A surgeon general's warning label, which requires congressional action, would regularly remind parents and adolescents that social media has not been proved safe. "And as with cigarettes, a surgeon general's warning label is a critical step toward mitigating the threat to children."

Source: New York Times June 17, 2024 19:08 UTC