Page 14 - The Indian EYE 030124

COMMUNITY OP-ED MARCH 01, 2024 | The Indian Eye 14

Social Media and Youth Mental Health

Challenges in New York City

Social media can damage self-esteem, promote addiction, and often encourages

reckless behavior like subway surfing and car theft challenges

ERIC ADAMS

ew York City has always been
a hub for technology and in-
Nnovation. And while technol- NYC is advocating for state and federal policymakers to put in place laws that require social media companies to ensure
ogy has helped create jobs, opportu- that their platforms are safe for youth mental health (File photo)
nities, and prosperity, it has also the
potential to cause new dangers, espe- the park with friends, they are inside Instead of connecting people Second, we will be providing me-
cially when it comes to social media on a sunny day clicking and scrolling. to one another, as our social media dia literacy and education to support
and the mental health of our children. And instead of learning confidence companies initially promised, their our young people and families. This
Our administration came into and resilience, they are being ex- platforms too often tear us apart. In- includes promoting tech-free zones
office two years ago with a mission posed to content that often leads to ternal TikTok documents reveal that to encourage young people to social-
to protect public safety, and protect- insecurity and depression. more than 20 percent of children are ize in person.
ing our young people’s mental health New York City teens are spend- active on the platform between mid- And finally, our action plan will
is very much a part of that agenda. ing an average of three hours or night and 5:00 AM when they should study the long-term impacts of social
That is why, last week — along with more per day in front of screens — be sleeping. In recent years, there media on our youth to understand
the New York City Department of not including time spent on school- was a 40 percent increase in high how New York City can better ad-
Health and Mental Hygiene, New work — much of it focused on the school students reporting persistent dress the harms caused by these plat-
York City Health + Hospitals, and endless stream of social media that sadness and hopelessness. forms.
the New York City Department has been designed with one goal in Dr. Vasan, our city’s health com- We know that some have begun
of Education — we filed a lawsuit mind: keeping users hooked for as missioner, released an advisory last working to tackle these issues. While
against the companies that own and long as possible. month declaring social media a pub- we welcome those efforts, this en-
operate five social media companies Adults find it hard enough to lic health hazard, and New York is tire industry must do far more. We
in an effort to hold these compa- moderate the use of social media, but the first major American city to call must have enforceable and agreed
nies accountable for role they have it’s even more difficult for our young out the danger of social media clear- upon standards, not a patchwork of
played in fueling a mental health cri- people. We know these platforms are ly and directly, just as past surgeons voluntary fixes that ultimately shift
sis among our young people. designed with addictive and danger- general did with tobacco and guns. the burden back to parents, teachers,
Our most recent data found that ous features that take advantage of a We are treating social media like oth- and young people.
young people in New York City are child’s natural interest in novelty and er public health hazards. Our children, our families, and
experiencing anxiety, hopelessness, play. Last week, we also released our our future are more important than
and are even attempting suicide at Social media can damage self-es- Social Media Action Plan, which will profit. That is why we are taking bold
rates we have never seen before. You teem, promote addiction, and often help us chart a new course forward actions on behalf of millions of New
don’t need to be a parent or caregiv- encourages reckless behavior like in several key areas. First, we are Yorkers. This is a crucial step in a
er to realize the effects of social me- subway surfing and car theft chal- advocating for state and federal pol- larger reckoning that will shape the
dia on our children’s lives. Instead of lenges. We have also seen a danger- icymakers to put in place laws that lives of our young people, our city,
talking to each other over lunch at ous rise in misinformation, xenopho- require social media companies to and society for years to come.
the cafeteria, our youth are absorbed bia, radicalization, and incitement to ensure that their platforms are safe Eric Adams is the Mayor of
in their screens. Instead of playing at hateful acts. for youth mental health. New York City, NY

www.TheIndianEYE.com