The current mental health crisis among young people is real. Few would dispute that kids are suffering now. In a recent New York Times editorial, Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy called for warning labels on social media platforms, similar to cigarette packaging. As a concerned parent, I get it. As a solution, I don't. I am disappointed that he links social media to cigarettes by calling for warning labels. A better analogy would be swimming pools, which can be fatal to children who can’t swim but have many benefits when kids exercise swim safety.
The proposed warning label emphasizes public concern over empirical evidence, encouraging the troubling trend of ignoring research findings in favor of emotion but most of all, it neglects the preventative power of digital literacy.
There is no such thing as the “healthy use of cigarettes.” Social media, however, includes hundreds of platforms with numerous features and widely varying uses (passive, like scrolling and researching; active, like commenting, creating, and sharing content). Like swimming pools, social media poses a risk when kids don’t know how to use it safely and in healthy ways.
Warning labels on social media are unlikely to change teen behavior. The proposal, however, has ignited a lot of emotion. It may do more harm than good if it results in restrictive regulations that ignore the need to teach kids the skills they need. Kids care more about being social than assessing future risks due to their developmental stage and brain maturity. Social media is a big part of how they connect with others and participate in popular culture; they will find a way to go online. Our goal should be to provide kids with clear guidance and the necessary skills and understanding to use technology (including social media) well rather than keep them from using it at all.
It's easy to forget that not all social media use is bad or a problem. Kids use various platforms, games, and apps to communicate, do schoolwork, conduct research, be entertained, get news, and stay connected to friends........