Surgeon General issues warning about social media and teen mental health

Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has issued a warning that social media use is a main contributor to depression, anxiety and other problems in the nation's teenagers. Dr. Murthy joins Morning Joe to discuss.
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Surgeon General issues warning about social media and teen mental health
#SocialMedia #MentalHealth #Depression

[@laurenwarwick6517]

Not just youth. All folks who spend too much time online get a diet of fear and hate and pessimism.

[@bobbykiefer4306]

They should offer children classes on how to recognize propaganda and falsehoods.

[@theblade9024]

Not to mention that Tik Tok is gathering personal data that will come back to haunt them when adults. Do the youth in China have 24/7 to social media? This is a drug addiction.

[@ChristendomForUS]

Yes but social media is also necessary for children of Democrats this way they can get information about how they were born in the wrong body and ask their atheist humanist leftist parents to have them severely mutilated this way their brain can match their body and their leftist parents can virtue signal, of course virtue signaling with the left is signaling satanic virtues

[@GoneFishingAway]

​@@bobbykiefer4306 I think MSNBC would be included as leftist propaganda.

[@mandyharewood886]

I spend plenty of time online. But I enjoy debunking idiotic posts, mostly from white racists. It doesn't depress me at all. I already know they're out there. I love making them look stupid.

[@Reed___]

I grew up on social media, and I have a love/hate relationship with, but I can honestly say, my generation would be better off without it.

[@eugeniorenaldo]

Just like our grandparents in the sixties about cigarettes, we are pretending to be uncertain about social media. "We don't really know if it's unsafe so let's just use it in case it is not". Everything is upside down. Would people think like that about a parachute ?

[@theblade9024]

Not to mention that Tik Tok is gathering personal data that will come back to haunt them when adults. Do the youth in China have 24/7 to social media? This is a drug addiction.

[@jeff8846]

You can't feed insight to children, only boundaries. This isn't a negotiation, it's parenting.

[@dannyspitzer1267]

So glad I grew up before cell phones and computers, and Ticketmaster

[@dannyspitzer1267]

@@denniswhite3487 I hate them

[@Reed___]

Is Ticketmaster the website you get concert tickets from? 😂

[@hilpei3675]

How about some regulations around it? The algorithms are a huge problem, yet nothing from our lawmakers.

[@fernandocastro3897]

I’m a psychiatrist, and what I don’t see addressed in this new advisory or other discussions about the impact of social media is the risk of addiction. It’s highly likely addiction to social media is part of the clinical picture in many cases. Patients lack the awareness to relate their social media use to compulsive behavior and addiction, so they are only able to describe worsening mood and increased anxiety. These are frequent symptoms that can be triggered by addiction of any type or made worse by addiction of any type.

[@i-dash]

Social media is little more than an Internet version of what my generation called a slam book 📖 . A book that got passed around where people would basically insult, slander and gossip about their classmates.

[@Scarshadow666]

Yeah, like the Burn Book from Mean Girls.

[@pc4mlc451]

Congratulations, MSNBC. You're about 20 years late on this story. Here's a "You Finally Did It" award and a cookie.

[@Thisisspitfire]

Physical/ medical problems are going to hit hard too. Forward head posture (tech neck) begets a lifetime of pain & progressive medical issues. The forward angle of the neck & head affect the brain stem & thus equilibrioception (balance) & the trachea > respiratory function > cardiac function. Curvature of the spine > lordosis > cervical pain etc! It's hurting the younger generations in every way imaginable

[@selah71]

Social media has pros and cons but definitely needs regulations. I wish parents with young 'uns good luck!

[@dannyspitzer1267]

More cons

[@V_B-mx9iy]

Black men stay home or vote for Trump

[@RocketScientist1]

Or Margaret Sanger and Hitler- your choice.

[@pattydonohue5452]

We should just turn off and tune out. Maybe “unlimited data” is not such a good thing. I’m signing off now.

[@axew3127]

Why don’t these people start looking into how school effects mental health

[@Barnabas45]

Glad I grew up before cell phones and computers!

[@dannyspitzer1267]

Me too

[@gregolonious]

This is a simple fix. Stop giving them access to the apps.

[@equalityforall8418]

Which is why I have never done twitter and facebook.

[@Tessmage_Tessera]

We don't allow young people to drink before the age of 21, because we realize that drinking can be harmful. We should treat social media the same way. If we determine that it's harmful, then we should place an age restriction upon it. We should also teach classes in high school on how to handle the peculiar sociology of the online environment.

[@margaretadams-oj6fw]

Kids have also grown up with gun violence 😢

[@deadman746]

It took the Surgeon General a lot linger to go after cigarettes.

[@talksick508]

It’s def bad…can lead some to eating disorders Depression, anxiety, bdd

[@BulbaTheFrog]

My children will not be using it until they’re in high school and even then I’m not sure about.

[@SOMAnxg]

Social media is another extension of socialization. Difference today being, 40 yrs ago what children had access to was limited and easier to scrutinize by way of adult oversight. And what was socially acceptable was better defined for minors. Social media (technology) has provided a plethora of platforms to expose minors to what isn't socially acceptable. And 40 yrs ago American youth didn't have easy access to miscreants, perverts, deviance, etc from across the entire planet. In fact with a "global community" children are even exposed to extremes, propaganda, etc that 40 yrs ago wouldn't have been acceptable to expose American children to. For example, American youth wouldn't have been exposed to Russian or Chinese propaganda, stereotyping was far more limited to local cohorts and social intercourse, etc. Yet we've turned a blind eye to social media because why? Largely due to profit seeking and bogus principle of 'free speech'. Free speech has never been an absolute because for the most part it was limited to speech that had an overall benefit to society. Such benefit makes in difference to the foreign (or even domestic) parties that don't care one iota about the civility of America. In fact they'd like nothing more than to ruin America and use our own liberties against US.

[@ruthdepew7212]

How do you restrict your child's social media exposure without making them a social pariah?

[@ggggloveking9419]

Get him or her involved in sports, or other social activities

[@Jay-pf2cn]

That would mean your kids are hanging around the wrong people anyways.

[@bobbykiefer4306]

The kids like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu now days.

[@brentharrington9235]

“Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it.” ― Leo Tolstoy

[@billwalton4571]

That’s why we also have a loneliness epidemic. Because when we do not wish to partake in the abomination we are left isolated.

[@nebbbship]

So I guess just collectively. We've all given up with critical thinking and analyzation huh?😢 Well I guess I'm late to this party because I still use critical thinking all day every day and I think we should be imparting upon each other and our foundational environments that we need to analyze what is happening and why things are happening. But also how things are happening when they're happening like literally just the who, what, when, where hows and whys of life. Particularly for social media, you only have access to what you give yourself access to regardless of the algorithm. So we collectively wanted more analysis content. We probably be better off like it's okay to watch things that make you feel something about yourself. Now you can start analyzing why you feel them. Especially better to start younger because it's harder to find interpretation when you're older. Whatever a whole bunch of slavelike labour anyways if I am parting a lack of discussion and critical thinking and if you haven't noticed, that's going to be like the word of the day critical thinking 😅

[@jaydeshaw3394]

Lot's of Grooming and recruiting going down on social media. It's up to parents to monitor their children.

[@Paul-lm5gv]

*It's ultimately up to parents to be parents!*

[@billwalton4571]

Baby boomers and onwards are the worst parents in history. They give irreversibly harmful messages when they do ‘parent’. They pass on their abominable customs.

[@jasonross6727]

Exactly! It's not the goverment's job to parent your kids.

[@jaystraley3242]

You can't blame "social media" because the PARENTS ignore their children.

[@Tessmage_Tessera]

You can't blame parents for not being able to monitor their child every hour of every day. Should they lock their kids in the basement and confiscate their smartphones?

[@RocketScientist1]

Ah, now that Truth Social and Rumble are doing awesome. Funny timing. 🧐

[@gregolonious]

Oh really? You must think Blockbuster is making a killing, too.

[@bobbykiefer4306]

They can't troll the Democrats on those sites, so something is missing.

[@scepts]

@@gregolonious excuse me they just got an exclusive show about how they are doing amazingly XD /s

[@RocketScientist1]

@@gregolonious look at the numbers 🤷‍♂️

[@noobmaster7c304]

Pipe down conspiracy theory Patriot. When would be the best time to come forward with this warning? You’d probably have another Trump conspiracy even if this were a year from now. The info isn’t new here and the warnings are real. Stop being a weirdo!

[@theepsteindiaries]

Joe Scarborough In the Office With the Candlestick

[@pattydonohue5452]

Wow, you’re planning a murder now? Change your game to Candyland or maybe Trivial Pursuit.

[@lisanidog8178]

What nonsense! Kids were messed up long before the internet. It’s up to parents to say no you don’t need a smart phone, and other tech stuff they buy for kids and pay the bill! And parents have their noses stuck in social media or on their smart phones and surprised they ever come up for air! Whatever happened to parents helping with self esteem! Teaching their kids not to bully! Taking their kids to museums or the library. I and my brother were raised in the 60’s and we hit our teens in the 70’s. Dad used to take me to the Art Museum, planetarium, Health museum, Natural history museum. On Sundays we’d all pile in the car and go into the country and get fresh corn or just drive. Or my brother and I would ride our bikes around the neighborhood. I was a big TV watcher so my parents decided to send me to day camp. Hated it at the time but I learned how fun it was to hike. I went to one camp that had regular kids, special kids and it was a combo school and camp and I was one of the teachers at only 9 years old. Only time I could watch TV was on weekends for my cartoons and a couple shows after school. Mom used to do some art and encouraged me to try an art project. I took dance classes, cooking classes. My favorite was going to the Library with dad and my brother and I read a lot. Now why can’t parents do that with their kids instead of giving them tech as babysitters!

[@zampnanpy207]

what are you even talking about? no one uses social media and smartphones 24/7. alot of people do different activities. also social media has reduced violence signficantly. what exactly do you want from other people?

[@ohpohp481]

Social media is unhealthy?WELL DUH

[@zampnanpy207]

social media is not unhealthy. its actually very healthy. people are able to mindlessly scroll on instagram and learn alot as compared to learning absolutely nothing just laying down on the sofa. it also reduced violence signficantly as compared to in person interactions where people can violently attack each other.

[@christophergeorge4398]

It's not safe you don't know who's who on their and these kids these days all they do is play games on the phone It's a distraction from reality,in my opinion social media is destroying humanity

[@hks2377]

Apple has excellent parental controls & screen time limits. You can completely block or limit apps, shut down everything but emergency contacts, etc. There are also search engine filters, music filters & there are content filters you can put not just on a device but on your WiFi. What a device can’t do: Teach them internet safety (no personal info, how to spot & avoid cyber bullies & predators, etc), SHOW them they can trust you with anything & that when you check up in them it’s because you care, ensure they have multiple adults they can confide in & communicate regularly with those people, local mental health resources, that the internet is forever & not to post things they wouldn’t want Grandma or a future employer to see.

[@misterspray7323]

And let me guess, the Florida surgeon general says the solution is lowering the age to buy firearms to 12.

[@zampnanpy207]

this guy doesnt care about the health of younger children. he just wants attention. social media has greatly benefited society and reduced violence signficantly as compared to in person interactions.

[@jasonross6727]

Typical out of touch, oldie, dinosaurs. "If it's not something we're into, it's wrong and must be stopped!" They said the same thing about video games, comic books, pinball, and rock 'n roll.

[@de6212]

Social media can lead you to lose 5-million-dollar defamation lawsuits too.

[@RocketScientist1]

But win the appeal.

[@RocketScientist1]

And then win $3b from the WaPo defamation suit.

[@de6212]

@@RocketScientist1 Looks unlikely. Donnie Dorko doubled down of defamation at the town hall.

[@bobbykiefer4306]

@@RocketScientist1 don't be such a political hack.

[@RocketScientist1]

@@bobbykiefer4306 I can’t help it- me and Paul get hammered 🔨 all the time.

[@aardque]

Unfortunately Trump ruined my respect for the office of Surgeon General.

[@roejogan7770]

That doesn’t make any sense

[@davidmhale521]

And it’s left leaning social media, that’s doing the most harm to children

[@theblade9024]

Yes left hate not right hate! Right hate is more righteous! White supremacy is better than trans stories!

[@dannyspitzer1267]

Ah yes, Fox News and the like is so healthy for kids, the country, and the world.

[@andrewhunt6082]

....our government of incompetent geriatric criminals is not qualified to ''help parents''' understand social media. Make a note, kids ~

[@bobbykiefer4306]

Social media is corporate run and is fairly new so there wasn't any past history to research.

[@TheHardTruth176]

Democrats-“Any child can get their 🏀⚾️✂️ if they choose! Gender affirming care!!” Also democrats-“Social media is dangerous for children!!”

[@ItsMeMario-nm7rk]

I was thinking the same thing lol.

[@lesabooth5243]

Simply get off social media. Problem solved .

[@anewleaf6847]

Yea....you mite aswell say leftist media on phones......haha....