Fund research on social media's impact on youth mental health

In 2020, 81 percent of 14- to 22-year-olds reported using social media “daily” or “almost constantly.”[1] During the pandemic, the time teenagers spent in front of screens for activities unrelated to school more than doubled, from 3.8 to 7.7 hours per day.[1] There is growing concern about the impact of social media and technology on youth mental health and wellbeing.[1]

In May 2023, the White House described steps it’s taking “to protect youth mental health, safety, and privacy online,” including the creation of a new “Task Force on Kids Online Health and Safety.”[2] Additionally, in September 2022, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) awarded a $2 million grant to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)[3][4] to establish a National Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health[5] to “serve as a centralized, trusted source for evidence-based education and technical assistance to support the mental health of children and adolescents as they navigate social media.”[5]

Congress has also recognized the need to address the issue, including language in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 that requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to study the effects of smartphone and social media use on adolescents’ emotional, behavioral, and physical health and to research the health and developmental effects of media and technology more broadly on infants, children, and youth.[6][7] Congress should continue to support similar efforts through increased funding for research and consumer education.[1]