This report led the surgeon general to write a New York Times Op-Ed. in June 2024, in which he argued, “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.”[ii]

Also in June, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul introduced the SAFE for Kids Act to restrict addictive feeds on social media platforms for children under 18.[iii]

Social media is part of all our lives, including our children’s, and it is important to understand the risks it poses to keep kids safe.

Social media by the numbers:

• Up to 95% of youth ages13–17 report using a social media platform, with more than a third saying they use social media “almost constantly”
• Adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of anxiety and depression symptoms
• Nearly half of adolescents say social media makes them feel worse about their bodies
• 75% of adolescents say social media sites are only doing a fair to poor job of addressing online harassment and cyberbullying

The risks of social media use are numerous and can include negative impacts on impulse control, emotional learning and behavior, body dissatisfaction, cyber-bullying, triggering content and predatory behavior. In fact, 60% of teen girls report they were contacted by a stranger on social media and that these interactions made them feel “uncomfortable.”

So, how can we keep our kids safe on social media?

Set limits – for everyone
Determine a safe and healthy amount of screentime based on your child’s age and implement screen-free time. This might include no screens at dinner, or after bedtime, for everyone in the home. There are several apps available to support limiting screen time and some that can block icons of social media and other apps.

Talk about it
Keep communication open with children and teens, discussing what they are viewing online. Don’t shy away from talking about the potentially harmful content they may view and be prepared to offer support.

Be aware
Pay attention to your child’s behavior and patterns. Have sleep patterns changed? Are they withdrawing, changing friend groups, appearing different? Keep communication open and seek professional mental health support if needed. The 988 hotline is available for anyone experiencing a mental health crisis and can be used to call or text for support 24/7.

Turn on privacy settings
Ensure your child’s accounts are private and they cannot share content too broadly. Review the risks of sharing content with people they do not know and encourage them to research any message requests from people outside their friend group.

Monitor accounts
A variety of apps and tools are available to help caregivers monitor their children’s phones. Your phone carrier can support you with recommendations. You also can “friend” your child on their social media accounts so you can view their content and connections.

Provide alternate activities
Support in-person time with peers. Check with your local library, YMCA and community center for activities for your child to engage in, away from a screen.

Although there can be benefits to social media, such as the sense of community it can provide, the ability to connect with people all over the world, and online communities for people with shared experiences, the negative side cannot be ignored. Understanding the risks goes a long way in helping to keep our kids safe.

Citations

[i]U.S. Surgeon General. (2023). Social media and youth Mental Health: the U.S. Surgeon General’s advisory.
https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/sg-youth-mental-health-social-media-advisory.pdf

[ii] Murthy, V. H. (2024, June 17). Surgeon general: Why I’m calling for a warning label on social media platforms. The New York Times.
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/06/17/opinion/social-media-health-warning.html

[iii] Governor Hochul joins Attorney General James and Bill Sponsors to sign Nation-Leading legislation to restrict addictive social media feeds and protect kids online. (n.d.). Governor Kathy Hochul.
https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-joins-attorney-general-james-and-bill-sponsors-sign-nation-leading-legislation

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