US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released a advisory on the impact of social media on the mental health of young people. It notes that while social media may offer benefits to some children and young people, there is a growing body of research into the potential harms posed by its use.
Children and adolescents on social media are commonly exposed to extreme, inappropriate and harmful content, and frequent use of social media can contribute to poor mental health, including depression and anxiety. The advisory outlines action steps that policymakers, technology companies, researchers and families can take to mitigate the risk of harm and make social media safer and healthier for children and young people.
OJJDP, in partnership with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), provides resources to keep young people safe online, including NetSmartz program. In addition, the OJJDP mentoring programs supporting the mental health of young people and its National Mentoring Resource Center is dedicated to improving mentoring practices that support positive youth outcomes.
RESOURCES:
