JUNE 27, 2025 SOCIAL MEDIA SOCIAL MEDIA from page 6 which included youth mental health and social media, was published in 2021 (the second year of the COVID-19 global pandemic) before he took office. That report talked about the impact of the pandemic on social media and technology use and increased loneliness caused by the quarantine. People believe that the long-term effects of that isolation are still being felt today. His first advisory report as the U.S. Surgeon General was written in late 2024 and published in February 2025. The title is, “Social Media and Youth Mental Health.” Earlier this year, Dr. Murthy published a book titled “Togetherness.” In it, Murthy talks about loneliness, social isolation and mental health consequences such as anxiety and depression. In his recent appearance on the NBC Sunday show, “Meet the Press,” Murthy lamented what he observed in some colleges he visited. For instance, he visited the dining hall of a college and it was very quiet. He looked around and saw many people using their smartphones and only very few people engaging in direct face-to-face conversations. He also visited other college settings to talk to students in order to gain more understanding about the benefits and risks of social media use. Those college visits and discussions with various stakeholders led to the February 2025 advisory which highlighted the issues of mental health crisis among young Americans. We have looked at several proposed solutions to the social media and youth mental health crisis, including the recommendations published by the NIH Library of Medicine. A more compelling set of solutions than the NIH information is contained in Dr. Murthy’s advisory on social media and youth mental health of February 2025. It recommended “ways to act based on your role.” For example, it provided different sections on what children and adolescents, parents and caregivers, makers and researchers can do. What children and adolescents can do: 1. Reach out for help. If you or someone you know is being negatively affected by social media, reach out to a trusted friend or adult for help. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988 for immediate help. 2. Create boundaries to help balance online with offline activities. 3. Develop protective strategies and healthy practices for your own social media use. See “Tip Sheet on Social Media use and Mental Health” for healthy social media use created for and by young people. 4. Be selective about what you post and share online and with whom, as it is often public and can be stored permanently. 5. Protect yourself and others from technology companies, policycyberbullying or other forms of online harassment and abuse: a. If you or someone you know is the victim of cyberbullying or other forms of online harassment and abuse, don’t keep it secret. b. Protect others by not taking part in online harassment or abuse. Avoid forwarding or sharing mean messages or images, tell others to stop, and report offensive content. What parents and caregivers can do: 1. Create a family media plan to help establish healthy technology boundaries at home — including social media use. For information on creating a family media plan, visit www. healthychildren.org/English/Fmp/ Pages/MediaPlan 2. Create tech-free zones and encourage children and adolescents to foster in-person friendships. 3. Model responsible social media behavior. 4. Teach children and adolescents about technology and empower them to be responsible online participants at the appropriate age. 5. Report cyberbullying and online abuse and exploitation. 6. Work with other parents to help GROUNDCOVER NEWS 11 Dr. Vivek Murthy, Former U.S. Surgeon General establish shared norms and practices and to support programs and policies around healthy social media use. Above all, Dr. Murthy wants us to start a national conversation in our various communities. Here are some questions that could be included in such conversations: What have we learned about social media and youth mental health crisis in our local area? What are the specific mental issues? Loneliness? Anxiety? Depression? Suicidal ideation? What are the public school systems doing to make things better? What do the teenagers want? What can the community do to help make the youth happier?
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