The Associated Press (“AP News”) reports that U.S. Surgeon General (Dr.) Vivek H. Murthy has called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms similar to those now mandatory on cigarette boxes.
In a New York Times op-ed article today (6/17/2024), Dr. Murthy said that social media was a contributing factor in the mental health crisis among young people. He also said that “it is time to require a surgeon general’s warning label on social media platforms. … A surgeon general’s warning label, which requires congressional action, would regularly remind parents and adolescents that social media has not been proved safe.”
Dr. Murthy, citing the need for legislative action, stated that the U.S. Congress needed to implement legislation to protect young people from online harassment, abuse and exploitation, and from exposure to extreme violence and sexual content – specifically citing features such as push notifications, auto-play and infinite scroll.
The AP News article may be read in full HERE.
CNN is also reporting in this matter, pointing out that the U.S. Congress has long chastised social media companies, claiming they pose harm to children, with CEOs of tech companies routinely grilled on Capitol Hill — such as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who publicly apologized to families whose children killed themselves because of online bullying and harassment.
Dr. Murthy has acknowledged that even if Congress passes legislation requiring warning labels, it would be insufficient to fix the problem.
Dr. Murthy further suggests that schools become telephone-free environments for children, as should dinner time and other family events. He also urged parents to restrict children’s use of social media until they graduate from middle school.
The CNN article may be read in full HERE.
In 2023, Dr. Murthy published an Advisory regarding the impact social media was having upon our youth. The U.S Surgeon General’s Advisory – Social Media and Youth Mental Health (2023) may be read or downloaded HERE.
My brothers and sisters, on the one hand, a case could be made that more government involvement in our everyday lives might be prudent in this situation, as all of us have seen, if not directly experienced, the changes in society and interactions with and between the younger generations because of social media and the saturation of mobile telephones in our daily lives.
On the other hand, it may behoove us to again consider that almost EVERYTHING we see, touch and use in our daily lives is already “regulated” by federal, state or local governments through statutes, rules, regulations or ordinances. And I mean EVERYTHING.
I sometimes ask myself, ‘what exactly am I completely free to do?’ Very little, actually.
Perhaps even more provoking are Dr. Murthy’s statements about what needs to happen in schools and in our own homes as we raise our children – going so far as to tell parents what should or should not happen at our dinner tables. The surgeon general is not responsible for raising our children, WE ARE! And herein lies the risk and the trap.
When does wisdom and limited government for the betterment and relative safety of all become the “trap” resulting in the near-complete loss of autonomy in living our lives and raising our children – and even assuring their education?
Truth, wisdom and freedom come from God! If we look to government to do the ‘heavy lifting’ in the upbringing and safety of our children, could we be somewhat missing the mark?
Civil government is ordained of God, even in Moses’ time, but when civil government (read: wisdom of the world) and its secular worldview becomes more trusted and valued than the freedom and blessing found by living our lives from a biblical worldview (read: wisdom of God), trouble is around the corner, if not already here!
The bible says that the truth is found in God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)!
Psalm 119:160 (NKJV)
“The entirety of Your word is truth, [a]nd every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.”
John 16:13 (NKJV)
“However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
John 14:6 (NKJV)
“Jesus said to [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
The bible says that we would do well to seek the wisdom of God in our daily lives, seeking the truth found in Christ!
Proverbs 3:7 (NKJV)
“Do not be wise in your own eyes; [f]ear the Lord and depart from evil.”
1 Corinthians 3:19 (NLT)
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. As the Scriptures say, ‘He traps the wise in the snare of their own cleverness.’”
The bible also says that freedom, true freedom, is found in Jesus!
John 8:31-32 (ESV)
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed Him, ‘[i]f you abide in [M]y word, you are truly [M]y disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free [emphasis mine].’”