Surgeon General: We should not allow 13 year olds on social media

Recent studies have shown that checking social media frequently can affect adolescent brain development.

WASHINGTON — US Surgeon General Vivek Merthy said Sunday that he believes 13-year-olds should not have access to social media, citing the platforms’ harmful effects on their mental health.

Most social media platforms, including large ones like Twitter and Instagram, currently require users to be over 13 years old to create an account. But most sites rely on an honor system for age verification, meaning that younger kids often have accounts.

This weekend, Murthy, the country’s chief medical officer, spoke to the CNN newsroom about his concerns about social media and teens.

“Personally, based on the data that I have seen, I think that 13 years is too early,” he said. value and their relationship, and the distorted and often misrepresented social media environment often does a disservice to many of these kids.”

A study published earlier this year shows that checking social media frequently can change how a teen’s brain develops. The rise of social media has also coincided with a rise in mental health issues among young people, including issues related to body image and anxiety.

Murthy acknowledged that it would be difficult to keep kids off social media, but said parents could band together to impose the idea that young teens should stay away from the sites.

“If parents can band together and say you know how a group we won’t let our kids use social media until they’re 16, 17, 18 or whatever age they choose, that’s a much more effective strategy to ensure your kids aren’t endangered.” early,” he told CNN.

Although Murthy’s comments are not legally binding, they come as Congress and various government agencies raise concerns about TikTok, a popular social media app often used by young people. He has been banned from using government devices in several states due to his ties to the Chinese government and the potential danger to children and their data.

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