The United States surgeon general has called on Congress to mandate warning labels on social media platforms highlighting their impact on young people's lives, similar to those required on cigarette boxes.

In a recent opinion piece in The New York Times, Dr. Vivek Murthy claimed that social media significantly contributes to the mental health crisis affecting young people.

"It is necessary to implement a surgeon general’s warning label on social media platforms, indicating significant mental health risks for adolescents. Such a label, necessitating congressional action, would frequently remind parents and teens that social media has not been deemed safe," stated Murthy.

Murthy, who serves as the chief government spokesperson on public health and is often referred to as the nation’s doctor, noted that a warning label alone would not render social media safe for young users but would be a step in the right direction.

Social media usage is widespread among young individuals, with up to 95 percent of those aged 13 to 17 reporting that they use a social media platform, and over one-third stating they use social media "almost constantly," according to 2022 Pew Research Center data.

"Social media today mirrors tobacco decades ago; it’s a product whose business model depends on addicting the youth. Just as with cigarettes, a surgeon general’s warning label is a crucial step toward reducing the threat to children," stated Josh Golin, executive director of Fairplay, an organization geared toward halting child-targeted marketing.

Introducing these labels on social media platforms would require legislative action, which remains uncertain despite existing bipartisan support for enhancing child online safety. Various congressional hearings have been conducted on this issue, and legislative efforts are underway. However, the last federal act focused on child online protection was passed in 1998, six years before Facebook was established.

"I hope this effort will be combined with other initiatives Congress is pursuing to improve social media products' safety, design, and privacy," commented Dr. Jenny Radesky, a developmental behavioral pediatrician at the University of Michigan and a leader at the American Academy of Pediatrics. "These efforts need to be unified, as Congress can follow the UK's and EU's lead in enacting laws that reflect children’s requirements when interacting with digital products."

Industry Resistance

Even with Congressional approval, tech companies would likely contest the warning labels in court.

"Imposing a warning label on online speech is not only scientifically flawed but also clashes with the constitutional right to free speech," argued Adam Kovacevich, CEO of the tech industry policy group Chamber of Progress. "It's surprising to see the US surgeon general criticize social media when teens themselves consider it a vital avenue for social connection."

Last year, Murthy cautioned that there wasn’t enough evidence to confirm social media's safety for children and teens. He suggested that policymakers should address social media's hazards similarly to how they regulate car seats, baby formula, medication, and other children's products.

To comply with federal regulations, social media companies currently prohibit kids under 13 from joining their platforms, but children often find ways to bypass these restrictions, with or without parental consent.

Other steps social media platforms have taken to address concerns about children’s mental health can be easily circumvented. For example, TikTok implemented a default 60-minute time limit for users under 18. However, once this limit is reached, minors can simply enter a passcode to continue using the app.

Murthy believes the impact of social media on young people needs to be taken more seriously.

"Why have we failed to address the harms of social media when they are just as urgent and widespread as those posed by unsafe cars, planes, or food? These harms aren’t due to a lack of willpower or parenting; they result from deploying powerful technology without sufficient safety measures, transparency, or accountability," he wrote.

In January, CEOs from Meta, TikTok, X, and other social media companies testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee amid parental concerns about inadequate protections for young people. These executives highlighted existing safety tools on their platforms and their collaborations with nonprofits and law enforcement to safeguard minors.

Murthy insisted that Congress needs to implement legislation to protect young users from online harassment, abuse, exploitation, and exposure to extreme violence and sexual content.

"These measures should prohibit platforms from collecting sensitive data from children and restrict the use of features like push notifications, autoplay, and infinite scroll, which exploit developing brains and encourage excessive use," Murthy wrote.

Senators Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal endorsed Murthy’s message.

"We are encouraged that the Surgeon General — America’s top doctor — continues to spotlight the harmful effects of social media on our children," the senators stated.