New York classifies social media as a public health hazard

This Friday, New York City classified social media as a public health hazard due to its impact on the mental health of young people, becoming the first major North American city to take such a measure, Mayor Eric Adams said.

“Companies like TikTok, YouTube and Facebook are fueling a mental health crisis by building their platforms with addictive and dangerous features. We can’t stand by and let big tech monetize our children’s privacy and put their mental health at risk,” the New York newspaper said. mayor in his annual State of the City address.

“That’s why today Dr. Ashwin Vasan [comissário de saúde da cidade de Nova Iorque] is issuing a warning, officially recognizing social media as a public health crisis in the City of York,” he said.

According to Adams, New York thus becomes the first major city in the United States to take this step and thus warn about the dangers of social networks.

“As chief surgeon [porta-voz em questões de saúde pública no Governo federal dos Estados Unidos] what we did with tobacco and guns, we treat social media like other public health dangers (…). We must ensure that technology companies are held accountable for their products. (…) Let’s fix this crisis that our children are facing,” he urged.

Following Adams’ speech, Ashwin Vasan released a statement with more details about the measure, emphasizing that New York is facing a “youth mental health crisis” and intends to take action on appropriate virtual platforms.

According to the most recent data for 2021, 38% of New York City high school students felt so sad or hopeless during the past year that they stopped engaging in their usual activities with young blacks, Latinos, women or members of the LGBT community. at disproportionately high prices.

According to the report, between 2011 and 2021, the rate of recurring suicidal ideation among college students increased by more than 34%.

On a direct note, the note noted that, based on 2021 data, 77% of high school students spent three or more hours a day on screens on a typical school day, not counting time spent on schoolwork.

“Social media has become an increasingly ubiquitous and influential part of the lives of young people in New York City, especially with the advent of smartphones, algorithmic content targeting, and monetization of user-generated content,” the text emphasizes.

The statement also offers advice to young people on how to use social media appropriately, such as spending time and places free from technology, monitoring emotions during use and sharing concerns about social media and mental health with adults.