Is Your Teen’s Social Life Hurting Their Mental Health? Here’s What Parents Need to Know.

Awareness, Advocacy And Advisories: Surgeon General Warning

States have started paying attention since a few things have happened in the past few weeks. Vivek Murthy, the US Surgeon General, wrote an open letter to Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms and their effects on young people.

The Surgeon General’s advisory on social media and youth mental health highlights the nearly universal use of social media among young people, with significant mental health risks such as depression and anxiety associated with excessive use. It urges immediate action from various stakeholders, including policymakers, technology companies, and families, to make social media safer.

Murthy’s recommendations include establishing health standards, improving data privacy, creating family media plans, and promoting digital literacy. He urges the need for more research to understand the impacts and develop protective strategies.

Read the article HERE.

Jonathan Haidt – Teens And Full Time Jobs Jan 2025

–

Awareness, Advocacy And Advisories: The NYT Investigation

And then there was this article on Meta’s safety in The New York Times:
How Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta Failed Children on Safety, States Say

In April 2019, David Ginsberg, a Meta executive, proposed a project to address loneliness and compulsive use on Instagram and Facebook, noting scrutiny over these issues, particularly affecting teens. He requested staff for this project, but it was ultimately rejected by both the company’s CFO and Instagram’s head, Adam Mosseri.

These email exchanges are part of evidence in over a dozen lawsuits filed by attorneys general from 45 states and the District of Columbia. These lawsuits accuse Meta of luring teens and children to Instagram and Facebook while downplaying the associated risks. The states aim to force Meta to enhance protections for minors, similar to the government’s approach with Big Tobacco in the 1990s.

A New York Times analysis of these lawsuits, including 1,400 pages of internal Meta documents, shows that Mark Zuckerberg and other leaders emphasized platform safety while ignoring internal calls for more youth protection measures. Several state attorneys general blame Zuckerberg for prioritizing user engagement over child safety.

Concerns have grown about the negative effects of social media on young users, including harassment, bullying, body shaming, and addiction. Recently, the U.S. Surgeon General called for warning labels on social media, and the Kids Online Safety Act is under consideration in Congress, aiming to turn off features that promote compulsive use for minors.

Meta has denied the states’ claims and moved to dismiss the lawsuits. The company asserts its commitment to youth well-being, highlighting over 50 safety tools and features developed for young users. However, parents of children harmed by online activities challenge these assurances, claiming that Meta’s measures are insufficient and ineffective.

Meta has historically focused on attracting and retaining teenagers as a core growth strategy, as shown by internal documents. Zuckerberg prioritized teenage user engagement as early as 2016, leading to features like Instagram Stories. Despite requests from executives like Kevin Systrom for more staff to address user harms, the focus remained on increasing teen engagement rather than implementing stronger safeguards.

Read the article HERE. (It is behind a pay wall.)

–

–

The State Of Arkansas

The state of Arkansas is launching a pilot program with two main goals: restricting in-school phone use and improving mental healthcare for students. Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has been proactive about addressing mental health issues related to early cell phone use.

In May, she distributed Jonathan Haidt’s book, “The Anxious Generation,” to all state governors and Arkansas legislators. The book highlights the negative impact of early cell phone use on young people’s mental health.

Governor Sanders and Department of Education Secretary Jacob Oliva have also informed school district superintendents about the pilot program. As part of this initiative, students will receive pouches to safely store their phones during the school day, promoting a better learning environment and reducing screen time.

The State Of Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Senate recently approved a bill aimed at improving students’ well-being and academic performance. Here are the key points:

Cellphone Ban: The bill encourages school districts to implement a pilot program that effectively bans students’ use of cellphones during the school day.
Locking Bags: If enacted, the bill would authorize grants to school districts for purchasing locking bags. Students would be required to leave their phones in these bags throughout the school day.
Mental Health and Academic Performance: The bill’s sponsor, Republican state Sen. Ryan Aument, believes that limiting phone use will lead to improvements in students’ mental health and academic performance. He highlights the negative impact of excessive social media and smartphone use on students.
Exemptions: The policy must provide exemptions for students with documented medical conditions that require cellphone use.
Monitoring: Participating school districts will track changes over two school years in areas such as student mental health, bullying, violence, and academic performance.

The bill now awaits consideration in the state House. It reflects a growing trend of cellphone restrictions in schools across various states, with the goal of creating a healthier learning environment for students.

Make The Internet Safe For Kids

– 0 –