Top U.S. Health Expert Recommends Restricting Social Media Use to Teens

Three young men use their mobile phones outside a 2022 New York Fashion Week show.Alexi Rosenfeld (Getty Images)

Dr. Vivek Murthy, the main health authority in the cabinet of the Government of Joe Biden, has published on Tuesday an opinion in which he calls to limit the access of minors to social networks. The recommendation is due to the "growing concern" among parents, researchers and experts about the impact that the digital environment can have on the mental health of young people. "Our children and adolescents do not have the luxury of waiting until we know the imprint they have on them," says the surgeon general of the Department of Health in reference to the networks. The official admits his "concern" about the way in which these platforms are designed and used to hook the youngest, which can affect their brain development, especially that of adolescents, if they are consumed without supervision.

The harm of social media depends on the time of exposure. With an almost universal presence among minors, 95% of the population between 13 and 17 years old says they use them and also finds benefits in them. Among the advantages, teenagers say they feel more accepted, they are the best channel to find help in difficult times and a good place to expose the most creative sides.

Health experts, however, warn of mental health problems that can lead to more than three hours a day of use of these platforms. That's enough to double the risk of anxiety and depressive feelings and is just the basis of app consumption, a 2021 survey found that established 3.5 hours as the average online scrolling. The abuse of networks can also affect physical balance with eating disorders, cause social complexes and reduce self-esteem, especially among girls. A third of women between 11 and 15 years old have said they feel addicted by some social network.

Murthy argues that it is the government's responsibility to provide tools to navigate the swampy waters of the digital ecosystem. In a reflection that is repeated more and more frequently in Washington, the expert believes that technology companies do not do enough to build safe spaces for children and adolescents. The doctor wonders why the authorities do not take applications and social networks with the same seriousness that they are adopted for new toys or medicines. In these cases, products that reach the market are subjected to third-party testing to reduce potential harm to consumers. "A priority approach should be taken to the safety of social media products, given the mounting evidence of the risk of harm they pose to some children and adolescents," the document states.

Tochi Iroku-Malize, the president of the Association of Family Physicians, said that while social media is a powerful tool for staying connected, it can also trigger "depressive feelings and anxiety" among teens. The American Academy of Pediatricians shares the concern, that "the digital world was not built with children's healthy mental development in mind."

Fight against cyberbullying

Parents admit that it is increasingly complex to guide minors in a context of hyperconnectivity and easy access to technology. 70% of those in charge of parenting consider it a more difficult task today than 20 years ago, with the main causes being social networks and digital coexistence. Eight out of ten also believe that technology companies must do more to protect minors from inappropriate content. 64% of teens say they have been exposed to hateful content online.

The document calls on these companies to be transparent and share the findings of their research with independent experts and the public, establish a minimum age for the use of the platforms and prioritize mental health and safety in the design and development of products and services. Some lawmakers and experts have said it's important to respect the 13 years suggested by various platforms as the minimum age to become a user. Age, rather than requirement, has been taken as a guide, since 40% of children between 8 and 12 years old in the United States use social networks.

Other analysts believe that this age should be changed to 16 years. In addition, the report recommends that business leaders establish committees of scientists and specialists who can advise how to create safe spaces for minors while they are connected.

The 25-page report also suggests parents have a plan that sets limits and rules on the use of platforms and protects personal data. The most relevant health official of the Democratic Administration advises cutting the use of mobiles, tablets and computers at least one hour before sleeping, since these electronics "interfere with sleep." Another point that is underlined is the need to educate minors in the steps they have to follow in case they are victims of cyberbullying and abuse by mail, text messages, online games or social networks or if they are contacted by an adult who has requested nudity or explicit photographs. Nearly six out of ten girls have been contacted by strangers online, who have made them feel uncomfortable. In the United States, some organizations such as Cyber Tipline or Take it Down help the victims of these cases. "Communicate at least one person you trust if you have been a victim of abuse, do not keep it secret," says the document, released expressly for technological, politicians and families to take precautions.