Surgeon General Report: Social Media Harmful to Youth and Adolescents

May 25, 2023

A new report from the U.S. Surgeon General warns that social media use can be harmful to the mental health of children and adolescents.  

The report, Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health, was released May 24.  

“Children are exposed to harmful content on social media, ranging from violent and sexual content, to bullying and harassment,” said U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, MD. “And for too many children, social media use is compromising their sleep and valuable in-person time with family and friends. We are in the middle of a national youth mental health crisis, and I am concerned that social media is an important driver of that crisis – one that we must urgently address.” 

According to the report, 95% of young people ages 13-17 use a social media platform and more than a third saying they use social media “almost constantly.” 

The Surgeon General is urging policymakers, technology companies, researchers, families, and young people to gain a better understanding of the full impact of social media use, maximize the benefits and minimize the harms of social media platforms, and create safer, healthier online environments to protect children. 

In December 2021, Murthy issued a report calling attention to the national crisis of youth mental health and well-being. Earlier this month, he released a report  outlining the profound health consequences of social disconnection and laid out six pillars to increase connection across the country, one of which being the need to reform digital environments.