June 18th 2024.
In a recent op-ed for The New York Times, Vivek H. Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General, made a call for warning labels to be placed on social media platforms. This move is part of a larger effort to regulate technology companies, particularly when it comes to the impact of social media on the mental health of teenage users.
Murthy's argument is based on research that shows a correlation between excessive social media use and increased rates of anxiety and depression among adolescents. He also references testimonies from young people themselves, who have shared how social media has negatively affected their body image.
As Murthy explained, "We need something clear and visible on social media that informs users of the potential harm, as recognized by the medical and public health community."
This call for regulation is not a new one. In fact, social psychologist Jonathan Haidt has also expressed concerns about the impact of social media on children, particularly teenage girls. He believes that the recent lowering of the digital age of consent from 16 to 13 is a problematic decision and highlights the lack of effective regulations in the United States.
As Haidt stated, "The way regulation works in the U.S. has been far from effective. The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, for example, was intended to protect children's personal data. However, after lobbying efforts, the age limit was lowered from sixteen to thirteen, and enforcement is virtually non-existent."
In Murthy's op-ed, he emphasizes the role of Congress in protecting children from the harmful effects of technology companies. However, advocates for children's online safety, such as Jeff Chester from the Center for Digital Democracy, argue that warning labels alone are not enough. There needs to be more comprehensive reforms that hold technology companies accountable for their actions.
Chester wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter), "Simply adding warning labels is not sufficient. There must be significant reforms in the online media business model, including antitrust laws, consumer protection policies, and privacy regulations. Without these changes, warning labels are just a superficial attempt at safeguarding our children."
On the other hand, technology companies are pushing back against regulations, with the help of NetChoice, a tech trade association. Members of NetChoice, including Amazon, Meta, and Google, have been actively opposing state efforts to regulate their industry. Carl Szabo, the group's vice president and general counsel, argues that it is the responsibility of parents to regulate their children's use of social media, not the government or tech companies.
Meanwhile, Murthy concludes his argument by drawing attention to how the government has mandated safety measures in other industries, such as seatbelts in cars. He questions why we have failed to do the same for social media, which poses just as urgent and widespread harms.
"The moral test of a society is how well it protects its children," Murthy notes. He urges for immediate action to be taken, as our children's well-being is at stake. "We have the knowledge, resources, and tools to make social media safe for our kids. Now is the time to take action."
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