TITLE

Surgeon General Warns That Social Media May Harm Children

DESCRIPTION

This is an important and lengthy article regarding adolescent development and social media screen time.  “The nation’s top health official issued an extraordinary public warning on Tuesday about the risks of social media to young people, urging a push to fully understand the possible “harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.”  In a 19-page advisory, (click the link to see the advisory)  the United States surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy, noted that the effects of social media on adolescent mental health were not fully understood, and that social media can be beneficial to some users. Nonetheless, he wrote, “There are ample indicators that social media can also have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.”  The article provides summaries of findings on the effects of social media on the developing adolescent and the negative effects on mental health and identity formation. 

SOURCE

New York Times, May 23, 2023, by Matt Richtel, Catherine Pearson and Michael Levenson

LINK TO RESOURCE

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/23/health/surgeon-general-social-media-mental-health.html?unlocked_article_code=1.50w.xwhu.N4f-Lkrv0YtP&smid=url-share

(Tiny URL)  https://tinyurl.com/568bwzxx

CLASS DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

•After reading the entire article, what are the negative findings regarding screen time of social media and harm to adolescents’ mental health?  

•Are there any positive effects of social media for adolescents?

•Do you believe that there are any ways to help an adolescent being effected by social media  (such as cyberbullying, self-harm, or eating disorders)?

•What is the Surgeon General’s warning regarding Social Media and Adolescent Development?