Surgeon General warning: Social media use poses mental health risk to our nation’s youth

With schools across the U.S. starting classes, all eyes are on our youth, and their eyes are on their phones. But what is so important on their phones? The unfortunate answer is social media. Social media and mental health is a rising problem among everyone, including our youth. So much so that Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has thrown up a red flag and issued an advisory urging policymakers, researchers, families, tech companies and America’s young people themselves to take action against the negative effects of social media on mental health in youth.

The good, the bad and the ugly of social media

According to the advisory, social media and its use among adolescents has grown so much so fast that the research hasn’t fully caught up. But as the research progresses, it’s increasingly suggesting a negative link between mental health and social media, as well as too much screen time. Consider this: 95 percent of youth ages 13 to 17 use a social media platform, and more than a third of them report using social media “almost constantly.” It gets worse. According to Common Sense Media, nearly 40 percent of kids ages 8 to 12, report social media use. It’s worth noting that 13 is the common age required to use a social media platform. That means these kids are finding ways around the age of suggested use.

Benefits of social media

Not all social media use is bad. Some positive effects of social media use for young people include:

• Acceptance into a positive community
• Connecting with people who share interests and identities
• An outlet for self-expression
• More opportunities to form and maintain friendships
• Increased opportunities to form relationships with more diverse groups of people
• More connection with their friends’ lives
• Support during hard times
• Increased feelings of being accepted

Negative impacts of social media and mental health

The time between the ages of 10 and 19 is very critical in brain development, and as it stands right now, not a lot is known about the impact social media use has on that development. For starters, there’s no good way to control what kids see on social media. For example, they could see violent or sexual content well before they’re old enough to process it. Furthermore, in his advisory, Murthy shares details on how social media use at a young age can literally alter brain development, causing issues with impulse control, emotional regulation and a decrease in life satisfaction. These findings coupled with the opportunity to see less-than-ideal content create the perfect storm for trouble.

Other established negative effects of social media on mental health include:

• Increased symptoms of depression
• A negative link between social media and anxiety
• Perpetuated body dissatisfaction and disordered eating
• Low self-esteem
• Sleep issues
• A decrease in physical activity

Some of these negative effects of social media on mental health can be eased by limiting social media time, suggesting, at the very least, restrictions on length of use per day. However, with social media and mental health, some teens report having no self-control over use, proving a growing need to break cell phone addiction. To paraphrase an old adage about addiction, one minute is too many because 100 are never enough. Given the growing research indicating the ill effects of social media on mental health, the Surgeon General is urging everyone to act.

States take action

The good news is that states are starting to listen. Cell phone use and social media go hand in hand, and more and more states are taking action to restrict cell phone use at school. So far, at least 12 states have policies or laws in place that ban or encourage the restriction of cell phones by students.

For example, in Ohio, Governor Mike DeWine signed into law a requirement that every school district in Ohio establish an official plan to minimize student cell phone use in schools. He also advocated for requiring parental consent for social media use by children.

What parents and caregivers can do

The time is now for parents and guardians to step up as well. As the saying goes, “it takes a village,” and that’s exactly what Murthy is urging. Ooma has explored this topic before and recommends families try a digital detox. This involves taking an active role in your child’s screen time use by limiting specific apps, including social media. Creating screen-free spaces and screen-free activities in your home that replace endless scrolling and compulsive checking of social media, while encouraging more face-to-face connection, helps bolster social wellness. As Murthy points out, children learn from what they observe.

Ask yourself how much time you personally spend on social media platforms a day. You can set a good example by responsibly limiting your time on social media and being mindful of what information and content you share about your children.

Studies have shown that cutting down social media use to just 30 minutes a day can have significant benefits, such as decreased anxiety, depression and fear of missing out (FOMO). As a parent (who likely pays for the cell phone), you have the control to enforce these limits.

One of the easiest ways to dial back cell phone use and avoid the ill effects of social media on mental health is by getting a home phone—it keeps your family connected as needed but doesn’t carry the temptation to scroll endlessly and “check-in” compulsively. Ooma has a range of options. All you need is an Ooma base station and an internet connection. Beyond that, the basic service plan is free (pay only applicable monthly taxes and fees). With Ooma, you’ll get crystal clear calling and enhanced 911 safety features, and you’ll have the peace of mind that at home, your kids steer clear of the ill effects of social media use through their cell phones.