Research Review: U.S. Surgeon General (2023). Social Media and Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory
Study in Plain English
Who & What: The U.S. Surgeon General issued a national advisory on how social media impacts young people’s mental health.
Method: Synthesised findings from multiple studies, surveys, and expert groups.
Key Findings:
Up to 95% of teens aged 13–17 use social media, with over a third saying they are online “almost constantly.”
Evidence links heavy use with anxiety, depression, poor sleep, and body image issues.
Social media can provide benefits (connection, identity support, community) — but the risks often outweigh these when unmonitored.
Strong call for research, regulation, and parental involvement.
Why It Matters: This is one of the highest-level warnings ever issued in the U.S. on youth digital wellbeing.
Little Dopes Commentary
Practical Meaning: This is not fringe research — it’s the U.S. Surgeon General urging parents, schools, and tech companies to act.
Parent Angle: Set tech boundaries (especially around sleep), model healthy use, and talk openly about what kids see online.
Context: Matches findings from Orben et al. (2022) about sensitive ages, and Pew (2022) about constant connectivity.
Limitations: It’s an advisory, not new experimental data. But it compiles the best available evidence to date.
References
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General. (2023). Social Media and Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/sg-youth-mental-health-social-media-advisory.pdf
