US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy says 13 is too young for kids to be on social media platforms.

US Surgeon General Vivek Merthy says 13 is too young for kids to be able to use social media because while sites allow kids of that age to join, kids are still “developing their own personality.”

Meta, Twitter, and a host of other social media giants are currently allowing 13 year olds to join their platforms.

“Personally, based on the data that I have seen, I think that 13 years is too early … This is the time when it is really important for us to think about what is happening with the way they think about their self-esteem and their attitudes and distorted and the often distorted social media environment often does a disservice to many of these kids,” Murthy told CNN Newsroom.

The number of teens on social media has raised concerns among medical professionals, who point to a growing body of research on the harm such platforms can cause to teens.

Murthy acknowledged that keeping kids away from these platforms is difficult given their popularity, but suggested that parents can succeed by speaking with one voice.

“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.

Adolescents in a special risk group

A new study suggests that the habit of checking social media may change the brain chemistry of adolescents.

According to a study published this month in JAMA Pediatrics, students who checked social media more regularly showed greater neural sensitivity in certain parts of their brains, making their brains more sensitive to social consequences over time.

Psychiatrists such as Dr. Adriana Stacey have pointed to this phenomenon for years. Stacey, who works primarily with teenagers and college students, previously told CNN that social media releases a “dopamine flush” in the brain.

“When we do things that are addictive, like using cocaine or using smartphones, our brain simultaneously releases a lot of dopamine. It tells our brain to keep using it,” she said. “In teenagers in particular, this part of their brain is actually hyperactive compared to adults. They can’t be motivated to do anything else.”

Recent research shows how excessive screen time can affect brain development. In young children, for example, excessive screen time was significantly associated with lower literacy skills and the ability to use expressive speech.

Members pay attention

Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, who recently wrote a Bulwark op-ed on loneliness and mental health, shares the Surgeon General’s concerns about social media. “We have lost something as a society as much of our lives have become screen-to-screen communication, it just doesn’t give you the same sense of value and the same sense of fulfillment as talking to or meeting someone. ” Murphy said in an interview with CNN along with Murty.

For both Murphy and Murty, the issue of social media addiction is personal. Both men are fathers – Murphy for teenagers and Merty for young children. “It’s no coincidence that Dr. Murty and I probably talk more about this issue of loneliness than others in public life,” Murphy told CNN. “I look at it through the lens of my 14 and 11 year olds.”

As a country, Murphy explained, the US is not powerless in the face of big technology. Legislators can make different decisions about restricting young children’s access to social media and encouraging companies to make algorithms less addictive.

The surgeon general similarly addressed addiction algorithms, explaining that pitting teenagers against Big Tech is “just not a fair fight.” He told CNN: “You have some of the best product designers and developers in the world who have developed these products to ensure that people make the most of the time they spend on these platforms. And if we tell a child, use your willpower to control how much time you spend, you are putting the child against the world’s greatest product designers.”

Despite the obstacles parents and children face, Murphy is optimistic about the future of social media.

“None of this is out of our control. When we had dangerous vehicles on our roads, we made laws to make those vehicles less dangerous,” he told CNN. “We have to make decisions to make (social media) a healthier experience that makes kids feel better and less alone.”


CNN contributed to his report.

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