In his State of the City address, New York City Mayor Eric Adams declared social media a “public health hazard” and an “environmental toxin,” citing the negative impact it is having on young people. The mayor announced that Dr. Ashwin Vasan, the city’s Health Commissioner, had issued an Advisory officially designating social media as a public health hazard.
The Advisory stated that mental health for young people in New York City has been in decline for over a decade. In the year 2021, 77% of high school students in the city spent three or more hours on screens on weekdays, excluding homework. The Mayor blamed TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook, claiming they are “fueling a mental health crisis by designing their platforms with addictive and dangerous features.”
The Mayor’s declaration is significant because New York City is the first major American city to officially recognize social media as a public health hazard. The Mayor considers social media to be like other public health hazards, such as tobacco and guns, and believes it’s time that tech companies take responsibility for their products.
In May 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an advisory warning that excessive social media use could be a profound risk to youth mental health. Murthy recognized that social media has positive effects on young people, with 59% of adolescents reporting that it helps them feel more accepted. However, the Advisory was issued as it was found that there is not enough research and clear data to determine if social media is safe for adolescents to use.
Surgeon General Murthy clarified that while some kids experience benefits from social media, there is more evidence that many kids are harmed by their use of social media. Murthy argued that social media use is an unknowing decades-long experiment, and there is much more to learn about the impact of social media on health and well-being, calling for action to protect children.
Mayor Adams’ declaration and Surgeon General Murthy’s advisory could lead to the development of new regulations for social media platforms. With the recognition of the negative impact of social media on young people’s mental health, it’s possible that tech companies will have to take action to ensure their products are safer for users. The Advisory also highlights the need for parents to monitor their children’s social media use to ensure better mental health outcomes.
