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

New York Times Podcasts
New York Times Podcasts
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Published 2024-06-21
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 YouTube, 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/health/surgeon-general-…) . Dr. Murthy said he would urge Congress to require a warning (www.nytimes.com/2024/06/17/health/surgeon-general-…) 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/opinion/social-media-he…) .

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily (nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily) . Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.
All Comments (14)
  • @r8chlletters
    Problem is most parents are glued to their phones as much or more than their kids…
  • @theJellyjoker
    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.
  • @rijd2304
    Social media is hypnotical, not social. I like that mindfulness book called 30 Days Without Social Media by Harper Daniels.
  • @DanielOlivares-xy3sd
    this is 8 years too late...there are already tons of studies done. why they only taking action now?
  • @millrace32
    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
    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.
  • @jjuniper274
    Let's just stop folic acid spraying into our grain system and see what that gets us.
  • @johnbeckwith8313
    How much more Government Control and Regulations do we want, when already we can't pay for what we get? $$$$$?
  • @claireconover
    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.