Ex-Surgeon General Calls for Social Media Regulation, Compares Addiction to Cigarettes

On Sunday, Jerome Adams, the former Surgeon General, voiced strong concerns regarding the addictive nature of social media platforms, stating they are "specifically designed to addict" young users. He drew parallels to how cigarette manufacturers once targeted adolescents, emphasizing the urgent need for regulatory measures.

"We know, based on Surgeon General [Vivek] Murthy's report, that there is increasing and very valid evidence out there showing links between social media use, particularly at a younger age, and increasing anxiety, increasing depression, less sleep, which actually leads to mental health problems and also obesity," Adams remarked during an appearance on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan."

In a 2023 report, Murthy highlighted the necessity for technology companies and lawmakers to take "immediate action" to safeguard young people from "addictive apps and extreme and inappropriate content" prevalent on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat.

Adams reiterated the need for government intervention, stating that "similar to cigarettes," it is crucial to acknowledge that social media platforms are "incredibly addictive." He pointed out that ongoing lawsuits regarding social media addiction reveal that these platforms were intentionally designed to ensnare children, akin to past tactics employed by cigarette manufacturers.

A significant ruling emerged from California on Wednesday when a jury found Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, along with YouTube, liable for knowingly creating platforms that inflicted mental health-related harm on young users. The plaintiff, identified as Kaley G.M., received $3 million in compensatory damages and an additional $3 million in punitive damages.

Meanwhile, a separate jury in New Mexico ruled in favor of state prosecutors who argued that Meta violated the state's consumer protection law concerning child exploitation claims. The jury determined that these violations numbered in the thousands, resulting in a hefty penalty of $375 million.

In response to the verdicts, Meta and YouTube announced their intentions to appeal. "We work hard to keep people safe on our platforms and are clear about the challenges of identifying and removing bad actors or harmful content. We will continue to defend ourselves vigorously, and we remain confident in our record of protecting teens online," Meta stated.

Adams referenced Australia's groundbreaking social media ban that restricts access for users under 16 years old. He argued that as legal actions increasingly hold social media companies accountable for excessive screen time and addictive behaviors, more U.S. states should consider implementing similar restrictions on social media and cell phone usage in educational settings.

"The policy is going to be hard, but Australia has already done it," Adams noted. "They banned social media for people under 16. You have 25 states, I believe, that are discussing or have legislation keeping social media and phones out of schools. We need to truly understand the harm occurring to our children due to this unfettered access to screen time and social media."