Surgeon General Declares Social Media Bad for Mental Health

Thursday, May 25, 2023

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Far too many young people are struggling with their mental health and unable to get the support they need. We all have a role to play in supporting youth mental health and creating a world where young people thrive.

Posted by Tor at 09:33 AM | 21 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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More from the cited article...

...US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has issued a new public advisory warning that "there are ample indicators that social media can also have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents."

Although the report says social media can provide benefits to younger users and cautions that more research is needed to fully understand its impact, it says America needs to "urgently take action to create safe and healthy digital environments that minimize harm and safeguard children's and adolescents' mental health and well-being during critical stages of development."...

#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2023-05-24 12:50 PM | Reply

There's some nutjob on "Truth" Social that's clearly mentally ill.

#2 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2023-05-24 01:27 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 4

Social Media may be bad for mental health. But what's even worse for mental health in the U.S., is lack of available and affordable treatment for mental health.

#3 | Posted by Whatsleft at 2023-05-25 11:23 AM | Reply | Funny: 1 | Newsworthy 1

Yeah, most of the political content is misinformation...
Feel sorry for today's youth. Brainwashing has moved to
the 'mass production' stage. Free thinking is discouraged...

#4 | Posted by earthmuse at 2023-05-25 11:33 AM | Reply

I would not be shocked if there turned out to be some correlation between social media and mass shootings. Which, if true, would be a connection with profound implications.

#5 | Posted by moder8 at 2023-05-25 11:35 AM | Reply

The irony of this thread. Calling out social media for harm and yet there is a Facebook link posted.

This site is dripping with hypocrisy.

#6 | Posted by shoeless at 2023-05-25 12:58 PM | Reply

Privacy Badger is my friend.

#7 | Posted by shoeless at 2023-05-25 12:58 PM | Reply

The irony of this thread. Calling out social media for harm and yet there is a Facebook link posted.

This site is dripping with hypocrisy.

This thread is a news article reporting on what a prominent person said about social media, not an endorsement of what that person said. Are you really this dumb?

#8 | Posted by JOE at 2023-05-25 01:16 PM | Reply

Considering facebook is where russia spread the propaganda that got trump elected, social media has done more harm to america than al queda.

#9 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2023-05-25 02:07 PM | Reply

Speak speaks the truth.

I watch YouTube daily for lunch break,
while working from home, but I cannot
say that it is not chalked full of
erroneous material and posts...

It is literally full of disinformation.
One has to be relatively smart to know
the difference between information and
disinformation/misinformation.

Not everyone in America is so smart.
Especially the youth.

#10 | Posted by earthmuse at 2023-05-25 02:16 PM | Reply

"This site is dripping with hypocrisy."

#6 | POSTED BY SHOELESS

Better than what you're dripping with, chucklehead.

#11 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2023-05-25 03:09 PM | Reply

There is a bipartisan effort to regulate when kids can access SM

Dem plan is noone under 12 can use SM
13-17 only with parental permission
Also they would prohibit the use of algorithms geared towards engagement (to reduce the outrage factor)

Rep. plan is no one under 16 can use SM

#12 | Posted by truthhurts at 2023-05-25 03:46 PM | Reply

TRUTHY

That going to require a whole new government agency dedicated to outsmarting millions of computer savvy kids.

That's a job that will give government employees gray hair in a hurry.

#13 | Posted by Twinpac at 2023-05-25 06:13 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

I see no reason why those under 12 should be allowed to use social media.

#14 | Posted by Tor at 2023-05-25 07:07 PM | Reply

Social media definitely has its pros and cons.

I'd say the cons of social media is mostly due to lazy people who don't research what they're reading about and solely use it seeking confirmation bias.

#15 | Posted by ClownShack at 2023-05-25 07:19 PM | Reply

Kids should not have smartphones. I see what it is doing to the kids and it's not good.

I know what is on the internet so I know it can't be good for the younger ones.

It's not just the websites it's the apps and the dopamine rushes from likes and followers etc.

It's like we all decided to perform this dystopian experiment on our kids.

I don't think it is going well.

#16 | Posted by donnerboy at 2023-05-25 07:38 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

enforcing relative laws won't be perfect but it will be worth it.

#17 | Posted by Tor at 2023-05-25 07:41 PM | Reply

Kids should not have smartphones.

Unfortunately an entire generation have been. Continue to be.

#18 | Posted by ClownShack at 2023-05-26 02:01 AM | Reply

Unfortunately an entire generation have been. Continue to be.

#18 | POSTED BY CLOWNSHACK

It's like some weird experiment we decided to do on a whole generation of kids without thinking it through.

It's like we all went "here, hold my beer. Watch this!"

#19 | Posted by donnerboy at 2023-05-26 12:32 PM | Reply

Before Facebook & Instagram, kids sort of sucked it up if other friends hung out with their other friends or if some friends got to a scene where they weren't invited. Now kids see the fun "friends" had the weekend or night before without them, and might even get the sense that they were dissed. Or they might see disparaging comments made about them on someone's posts. What happens after that could range from introspective depression to hostile rage. Neither is a high EQ response, but in the public realm of online "humiliation" anything is possible.

#20 | Posted by Augustine at 2023-05-26 07:18 PM | Reply

That going to require a whole new government agency dedicated to outsmarting millions of computer savvy kids.
That's a job that will give government employees gray hair in a hurry.
#13 | POSTED BY TWINPAC

Not really I would imagine 100% of 12 and under get their phones from their parents/guardians. When the phone is set up, it is provided with child proof settings.

Same with 13-16 year olds, parents/guardians provide authorization at time phone is set up.

#21 | Posted by truthhurts at 2023-05-26 07:23 PM | Reply