‘Social media should have warning labels like tobacco’, American Dr Vivek said- it is harmful for teenagers

Describing social media platforms as harmful as tobacco products, US Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy has demanded from the US Parliament that the same kind of warning labels should be put on the use of social media as are put on tobacco products.

Dr Murthy said that parents should be advised about the use of social media that the use of these platforms is harming the mental health of adolescents. He said that just as warnings are shown on tobacco and alcohol products that their use is harmful to health, in the same way he will demand from Congress to introduce a law to show such warnings regarding the use of social media. Dr Murthy said in an article in the New York Times on Monday that this warning label will send a powerful message to parents that social media is not safe.

Failed to tell about the harm

Dr Murthy has described the effects of social media on children and adolescents as a public health risk equal to road accidents or contaminated food. Dr Murthy says that we have failed to tell everyone about the harms of social media. This harm is not happening due to the failure of parental will and parenting, but is the result of unleashing powerful technology without adequate security measures, transparency or accountability.

Youth spending 4.8 hours a day on social media

Citing a research, Dr. Murthy said that teenagers in America are spending an average of 4.8 hours a day on social media. Teens who spend more than three hours a day on social media are at a very high risk of mental health problems. At the same time, citing a Gallup survey, it was told that 46 percent of teenagers in America have admitted that social media has made them feel bad about their body. Dr. Murthy had said that he has talked to such youth who are unable to stay away from social media even if they want to.