Social Media Poses ‘Profound Risk’ to Kids’ Mental Health, Surgeon General Warns

The U.S. Surgeon General this week issued a public advisory warning that social media can pose a “profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.”

In this 25-page advisory, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy called on policymakers, tech companies, and parents to take action to mitigate harm, and offered recommendations for how to do that. He also called for more research into the risks.

In a statement, Murthy said:

“Children are exposed to harmful content on social media, ranging from violent and sexual content to bullying and harassment. And for too many children, social media use is compromising their sleep and valuable in-person time with family and friends.