America’s Top Doctor on Why He Wants Warning Labels on Social Media

Рет қаралды 7,843

9 күн бұрын

Warning: This episode contains mentions of bullying and suicide.
A rising tide of mental health problems among teenagers has sent parents, teachers and doctors searching for answers. This week, the U.S. surgeon general, Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, offered one: social media.
Today, Dr. Murthy discusses his proposal to require platforms such as KZfaq, TikTok and Instagram to include warning labels, like those that appear on tobacco and alcohol products.
Guest: Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, the U.S. surgeon general.
Background reading:
• Dr. Murthy cannot unilaterally impose warnings on social media; the action requires approval by Congress (www.nytimes.com/2024/06/17/he...) . Dr. Murthy said he would urge Congress to require a warning (www.nytimes.com/2024/06/17/he...) that social media use can harm teenagers’ mental health.
• Read a guest essay by Dr. Murthy: Why I’m Calling for a Warning Label on Social Media Platforms (www.nytimes.com/2024/06/17/op...) .
For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily (nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-t...) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Пікірлер: 34

@r8chlletters 7 күн бұрын

Problem is most parents are glued to their phones as much or more than their kids…

@claireconover 5 күн бұрын

… at this point, probably more.

@theJellyjoker 4 күн бұрын

I've had unrestricted access to the internet since 1994, when I was 12. A lot of my current mental issues I can only point to my time on the web. Some of the events I've witnessed, people I've interacted with and even some of the things I've said and done over the last 30 years I can only describe as deeply traumatizing.

@catie5939 4 күн бұрын

I find that so interesting, because I had the same experience, but I was 11 in 1994 when we got the internet. I was being "homeschooled" (not schooled) and the internet saved me. I got to have social interaction and learn things beyond creationism and have an outlet for my thoughts (angelfire, livejournal, etc). Can I ask, what happened? I do know how awful the internet can be. In April, I finally gave up my smartphone for a d*mbphone and I've honestly never been happier, but I'm just so sorry that it's like this and also curious. Hope I didn't overstep.

@theJellyjoker 4 күн бұрын

@@catie5939 It's ok, talking about it helps me. I was in Special ED and the interned saved me in the same way. I'm Autistic so the internet let me talk to people and have a social life I would otherwise not have had. The best piece of internet advice my father (classic computer nerd) gave me was “don't give out your real name, our phone number, address or any other personal identifying information.” and that served me well in my youth. In my family, discussions of politics science, history and news was normal. Not arguments, more like encouragement to investigate for ourselves. That's the kind of stuff I looked up online. That lead me down a the deep dark violent depressing rabbit holes. I tipped my fedora once upon a time. I can't talk much about it here, lots of live stream violence, both physical and psychological. All the riots really broke me.

@whitneyw.7919 4 күн бұрын

I agree … seeing porn I can track back to encouraging me to become an escort.

@rijd2304 7 күн бұрын

Social media is hypnotical, not social. I like that mindfulness book called 30 Days Without Social Media by Harper Daniels.

@DanielOlivares-xy3sd 7 күн бұрын

this is 8 years too late...there are already tons of studies done. why they only taking action now?

@lisapc8411 7 күн бұрын

Exactly!!!

@theJellyjoker 4 күн бұрын

Scientists are some of the dumbest people I've ever seen.

@neiljeffers4746 7 күн бұрын

Prevent "doc it hurts when I do this" doc "don't do that"

@millrace32 7 күн бұрын

talking about the uniqueness & pervasiveness of social media, especially in contrast to video games, television, the printing press, etc. all of those things give people windows to other worlds - real & unreal. social media is a two-way window. it not only gives you a window to (algorithmically tailored & supercharged) new & exciting worlds, it also gives others a window to you (that is also computationally malleable)

@whitneyw.7919 4 күн бұрын

Parent’s are way too concerned about their kids being “lonely” of “odd man out”. Guess who’s also lonely?? Millionaires and pple who do great things. To be average is to be pretty pathetic honestly.

@theJellyjoker 4 күн бұрын

24:51 A journey of 1,000 mils starts with a single step.

@jjuniper274 3 күн бұрын

Let's just stop folic acid spraying into our grain system and see what that gets us.

@johnbeckwith8313 7 күн бұрын

How much more Government Control and Regulations do we want, when already we can't pay for what we get? $$$$$?

@johnbeckwith8313 7 күн бұрын

Government is out of control and costs too much. More bureaucrats?

@hanaf1231 7 күн бұрын

This is the kind of thing I want my government doing. America has some of the lowest smoking rates in the world due to the work of government. It's not all bad.

@theJellyjoker 4 күн бұрын

@@hanaf1231 I agree! Things like child safety settings, robust ways to detect childhood issues, eastly report predators and quickly deal with them.

@catie5939 4 күн бұрын

@@johnbeckwith8313

@claireconover 7 күн бұрын

too late. if you were going to label social media, you should have done it at least a decade ago. the negative effects of social media are not suddenly known. it’s been common knowledge for a while… and kids today are beginning to avoid platforms a bit more because they know it’s informationally invasive and emotionally harmful. they’ve also exhibited an appreciation for nostalgia, including “dumb phones”. if the kids can sustain that distance from new tech and social media, they might grow up happier then the last 2 generations, at least.

@audiblemalice 7 күн бұрын

Anyone below 21 should be banned from social media.

@volkerengels5298 6 күн бұрын

First, you would have to measure a person's maturity level. Then you can say whether they are "21". We both have seen 'children' in a adult body.

@catie5939 4 күн бұрын

Right, because what children in abusive and neglectful homes need is LESS contact with the outside world. /s Like, I hear you, but the internet was my *lifeline* growing up. I have an education because of access to the internet in childhood. Until we regulate homeschooling in the US, I don't support this kind of legislation at all.

@volkerengels5298 4 күн бұрын

@@catie5939 Your comment is sus.