U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called on Monday (17) for the introduction of warning labels on social media apps. The proposal aims to inform users about potential harms that these platforms can cause, particularly to adolescents.
As the spokesperson for public health in the U.S. government, the Surgeon General provides recommendations and alerts to issues affecting the general population. This role is crucial for promoting health policies and public awareness.
In an opinion piece in the New York Times, Murthy argued that merely adding warning labels is not enough to make social media completely safe for adolescents, but this measure could significantly increase awareness. He compared the potential effectiveness of these labels to tobacco studies, which have shown that visible warnings can influence behavior and raise risk awareness.

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy emphasized that, despite their numerous benefits, social media platforms are associated with various mental health issues in adolescents, including anxiety, depression, and other mental disorders. He highlighted that teenagers are particularly vulnerable to these influences due to their developmental stage.
Murthy’s proposal is part of a broader effort to address mental health problems exacerbated by increasing use of digital technologies. He believes that warning labels could be an initial but significant step to encourage parents, educators, and adolescents themselves to think more critically about how they use these platforms and how much time they spend on them.
Additionally, Murthy called for stringent regulations and active involvement from technology companies to protect young users. He argued that these companies have a responsibility to create safer and healthier environments for their users, especially for young people.
In summary, the U.S. Surgeon General underscored the importance of a multi-faceted approach to addressing the challenges social media poses to adolescent mental health. He urged all stakeholders to collaborate in creating a digital environment that promotes the well-being and safety of children and adolescents.
To make such warning labels mandatory, specific legislation would need to be passed by the U.S. Congress. Advocates for youth and lawmakers have long accused social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat of having harmful effects on children, including reduced attention spans, the promotion of negative body images, and vulnerability to online predators and stalkers.
“It is time for the Surgeon General to demand a warning label on social media that states that social media is associated with significant harms to adolescent mental health,” Murthy wrote on Monday.
Platforms like TikTok, Snap, and Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, did not respond to requests for comment.
The CEOs of these companies, as well as representatives from the social platform X and the messaging app Discord, were sharply questioned by U.S. Senators during a hearing on child online safety in January. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham accused the executives of having “blood on their hands” for not adequately protecting young users from sexual predators.
In response to growing concerns about the harmful effects of social media, some U.S. states have taken measures to protect minors. For example, New York lawmakers passed a law this month prohibiting social media platforms from showing algorithmic “addictive” content to users under 18 without parental consent.
In March, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law restricting access to social media for those under 14 and requiring 14- and 15-year-olds to obtain parental consent to use these platforms.
These legislative initiatives reflect an increasing and urgent response to concerns about the safety and well-being of adolescents in digital environments, aiming to mitigate potential mental health harms from extensive social media use among youth.
In summary, Vivek Murthy’s call for warning labels on social media highlights the importance of educational and preventive measures to protect young people from the harmful effects of these platforms. As the U.S. Congress considers the possibility of national legislation, states continue to enact their own laws to ensure the online safety of minors.
Technology companies are under growing pressure to create safer and more responsible digital environments, demonstrating the need for a collaborative and proactive approach to addressing the challenges that social media poses to adolescent mental health.
The use of social media by children and adolescents raises several concerns due to the various issues that can affect their physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Despite their many benefits, digital platforms can have significant negative consequences.
Studies have shown that heavy social media use is associated with an increase in symptoms such as anxiety and depression among adolescents. Constant exposure to idealized lifestyles of other users can trigger feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. Additionally, excessive use of social media, especially before bedtime, can impair sleep quality, leading to fatigue and difficulty concentrating the next day.
Exposure to retouched and idealized images on social media can lead to distorted body perception, promoting comparison and contributing to eating disorders and body image issues. The search for validation through likes and comments increases social pressure and negatively affects adolescents’ self-esteem.
Constant consumption of short and fast content on social media can reduce adolescents’ attention spans, making it harder to focus on lengthy or demanding tasks. This limitation in concentration can impact academic performance and other areas of life.
Children and adolescents can easily become targets for online predators who exploit their inexperience and trust to make inappropriate contacts. Social media also provides fertile ground for cyberbullying, where insults, humiliations, and threats can be widely and anonymously spread, causing significant emotional harm.
Many adolescents may not be fully aware of the risks associated with sharing personal information online, leading to privacy and security issues. Disclosing personal data on social media can result in identity theft and other forms of exploitation.
Social media platforms are designed to be engaging, which can lead to compulsive use and the development of addictive behavior. This compulsive use diverts adolescents from healthier and more productive activities, contributing to mental and physical health problems.
Online communication can replace face-to-face interactions and negatively affect adolescents’ social and emotional skills. They might struggle to develop healthy and meaningful relationships outside the digital world, which could impair their social and emotional development.
The problems associated with social media use by children and adolescents are complex and multifaceted. To minimize these risks, it is crucial for parents, educators, and lawmakers to work together to promote safe and healthy use of these platforms. Setting appropriate boundaries, educating adolescents about the risks, and fostering a mindful and responsible approach are fundamental steps in protecting young people’s well-being in the digital environment.