Social Media Health Warning Call: Surgeon General Vivek Murthy Urges Platforms to Protect Young Users

In an op-ed published in The New York Times, Vivek H. Murthy, the U.S. surgeon general, called for social media platforms to include health warnings aimed at younger users. Murthy emphasized that it is time for these platforms to acknowledge the significant mental health risks associated with adolescent social media use and implement measures to protect young users.

Last year, Murthy’s office issued an advisory on the potential negative impacts of social media use on teenagers. In this advisory, he urged social media companies to prioritize safety and privacy in their product designs and enforce minimum age requirements more strictly.

The issue of social media use among young people is still developing, and updates will be provided as they become available. ABC News’ Ahmad Hemingway, Dr. Amanda Kravitz, and Dr. Mariam Gomaa contributed to this report. Copyright © 2024 ABC News Internet Ventures.