US surgeon general wants social media warning labels

Gin Lalli, psychotherapist and author of How to Empty Your Stress Bucket, told the BBC warning labels would be “a significant step towards promoting better mental health and wellbeing”.

She said that social media may have many benefits, but there may also be some risks such as cyberbullying or exposure to harmful content.

“These risks lead to anxiety, depression and other mental health issues, something myself and my colleagues are seeing more and more.”

She said a warning label would act as a reminder for people to be mindful of their usage, and to take regular breaks.

“I can also see warning labels as being of great benefit to the parents – having that ‘back-up’ so to speak means that they can feel more confident in setting boundaries around social media use,” she said.

There is an ongoing debate about the impact of social media on young people.

Some research has found a link between heavy social media use and a negative impact on teenagers’ mental health, and other research has linked teenage social media use to a reduction in how satisfied children feel with their lives.

But a 2023 study found no evidence linking the global spread of Facebook and widespread psychological harm, while other research reported some children benefit from spending time online speaking to friends they already know offline.

And the American Psychological Association says social media is “not inherently beneficial or harmful”, though it warns of problematic use and wants content removed which encourages harm.

It also said “most” under-14s should be monitored while using social media.

In the UK, tech firms will have to take more action to keep children safe on the internet, with the Online Safety Act set to come into force in 2025.

Media regulator Ofcom set out new rules for tech firms in May, requiring them to have robust age-checking measures and to steer children away from “toxic” material.

But parents of children who died after exposure to harmful online content want the rules to go further.