⚕️Social Media and Youth Mental Health: Key Insights, Questions, and Takeaways for Parents, Tech Companies, and Policymakers
Tuesday, May 23, 2023: The United States Surgeon General issued a comprehensive 25-page report outlining available evidence about the impacts of social media on youth – and what parents, policymakers, and tech companies can do about it.
You can find key recommendations and insights below. Click the button below to be directed to the full report!
Recommendations for Tech Companies:
Prioritize Human-Centered Design Principles.
For more about Human-Centered Design Principles, you can read All Tech is Human’s HX Report.
Promote Transparency
Assess Risk and Be Proactive, Not Reactive
Default Children Safety Settings to Maximum Security
Be Transparent with Data and Key Findings
Facilitate Independent and Transparent Research About the Impacts of Social Media
Recommendations for Parents and Guardians
Develop a Family Media Plan
Create Tech-Free Environments to Encourage In-Person Friendship
Model Appropriate Social Media Use
Report Cyberbullying and Abusive Online Behavior
Connect with Local Parents to Establish Digital Norms and Standards
Recommendations for Policymakers:
Strengthen Social Media Protections to Guarantee Greater Youth Safety
Support and Uplift Digital and Media Literacy Curricula in Schools
Advocate for increased funding about the effects of social media on youth
Collaborate with international partners
Recommendations for Youth:
Ask For Help
Be Careful About What You Share Online
Create Boundaries Between Online and Offline Activities
Develop Healthy, Proactive, and Protective Strategies for Personal Use
Don’t Participate in Harmful Online Behavior
Don’t Keep Harassment or Abuse a Secret
Recommendations for Researchers:
Prioritize Research About Social Media’s Influence on Youth
Challenge Existing Best Practices for Healthy Social Media Use
Enhance collaboration and research
Weigh the Benefits of Social Media Use
Study the Long-Term Effects on Adults
🌎 We invite you to join our Slack community of more than 5,500 people in almost 70 countries to discuss the new U.S. Surgeon General’s report.
📚 Download All Tech is Human’s Improving Social Media report, a comprehensive guide that profiles the issues, community members, organizations & resources focused on creating a better tech future.