Surgeon General Issues Advisory on Pediatric Social Media Use

On May 23, 2023, the United States Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, MD, MBA, issued a new advisory on social media use among pediatric populations. Acknowledging the benefits and utility of social media for building connections and more, Murthy points to a potentially high risk of mental health harm for adolescents that use social media heavily.

First, the report analyzes the rate of social media use among pediatric populations, noting that roughly 95% of teenagers use social media. In addition, two-thirds of teens reported using social media daily. Survey results from 2021 note that the average teenager spends 3.5 hours per day on social media.

Additional insights revealed that 40% of children 8–12 use social media even though most community guidelines specify a minimum age of 13.

“The most common question parents ask me is, ‘Is social media safe for my kids.’ The answer is that we don't have enough evidence to say it's safe, and in fact, there is growing evidence that social media use is associated with harm to young people’s mental health,” said Murthy in the HHS announcement.

Although most of this report focuses on the risks associated with social media use, the advisory also points out the potential benefits. Data notes that 58% of pediatric populations feel more accepted on social media. Additional benefits include feeling supported during difficult periods, having a creative outlet, and feeling more connected to friends.

Despite these potential benefits, Murthy notes, “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. We are in the middle of a national youth mental health crisis, and I am concerned that social media is an important driver of that crisis — one that we must urgently address.”

According to the advisory, spending over three hours on social media daily doubles the risk of poor mental health outcomes, including symptoms of depression or anxiety. Considering that the average teen spends more than three hours on social media, concerns regarding use are warranted.

In addition, 46% of teenagers note that social media makes them feel worse about their body image. Moreover, social media has been linked to poor sleep quality and depression.

The potential risks associated with social media and limited understanding of its impacts have led Murthy to stress vigilance with pediatric social media use.