Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. surgeon general, is calling for 鈥渋mmediate action鈥 by tech companies and lawmakers to protect kids' and adolescents' mental health on social media.
But after years of middling and insufficient action by both social media platforms and policymakers, parents and young people still bear most of the burden in navigating the fast-changing, often harmful world of secretive algorithms, addictive apps and extreme and inappropriate content found on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.
So what can parents and young people do now? The surgeon general has some tips.
鈥淥ur children and adolescents don鈥檛 have the luxury of waiting years until we know the full extent of social media鈥檚 impact,鈥 Murthy said in an advisory released on Tuesday. 鈥淭heir childhoods and development are happening now."
TIPS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
鈥 Reach out for help: If you or someone you know is being negatively affected by social media, reach out to a trusted friend or adult for help. Check the on social media.
鈥 Create boundaries: Limit the use of phones, tablets, and computers for at least one hour before bedtime and through the night to make sure you get enough sleep. Keep mealtimes and in-person gatherings device鈥慺ree to help build social bonds and engage in two鈥憌ay conversations with others. Connect with people in person and make unplugged interactions a daily priority.
鈥 Be cautious about what you share: Personal information about you has value. Be selective with what you post and share online and with whom, as it is often public and can be stored permanently. If you aren鈥檛 sure if you should post something, it鈥檚 usually best if you don鈥檛.
鈥 Don鈥檛 keep harassment or abuse a secret: Reach out to at least one person you trust, such as a close friend, family member, counselor, or teacher, who can give you the help and support you deserve. Visit for tips on how to report cyberbullying. If you have experienced online harassment and abuse by a dating partner, contact an expert at for support. If your private images have been taken and shared online without your permission, visit to help get them removed.
TIPS FOR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS
鈥 Create a : Agreed-upon expectations can help establish healthy technology boundaries at home 鈥 including social media use. A family media plan can promote open family discussion and rules about media use and include topics such as balancing screen/online time, content boundaries, and not disclosing personal information
鈥 Create tech-free zones: Restrict the use of electronics at least one hour before bedtime and through the night. Keep meal times and other in-person gatherings tech-free. Help children develop social skills and nurture their in鈥憄erson relationships by encouraging unstructured and offline connections with others.
鈥 Model responsible behavior: Parents can set a good example of what responsible and healthy social media use looks like by limiting their own use, being mindful of social media habits (including when and how parents share information or content about their child), and modeling positive behavior on your social media accounts.
鈥 Empower kids: Teach kids about technology and empower them to be responsible online participants at the appropriate age. Discuss with children the benefits and risks of social media as well as the importance of respecting privacy and protecting personal information in age-appropriate ways. Have conversations with children about who they are connecting with, their privacy settings, their online experiences, and how they are spending their time online.
