Do social networking sites have any responsibility in promoting mental health in their users? If so, how might they go about doing so?

     I believe social networking sites don’t have direct responsibility for the mental health of their users, but they should be transparent about the content and potential effects that media can have. Many people engage with social media, and “Though most social media platforms have a required minimum age of 13, almost 40% of children between the ages of 8 and 12 use social media” (Vidal & Katzenstein, 2024). This statistic shows that many young people are active on social media and are more susceptible to harmful content.

    I'm very anti-censorship and don’t think platforms should enforce it—but I do feel it’s extremely important that both parents and users are informed about the mental health effects that social media can have. Since anxiety, depression, and self-esteem issues can arise from engagement with these platforms, users should be aware of those potential consequences before participating.

    I don’t think this information should be buried in the terms and conditions that no one reads. Instead, there should be warnings that appear periodically and when downloading an app. Children shouldn’t have their own logins, and parents should have control over the time spent and the type of content their children are exposed to in order to reduce the risk of mental health issues later on.

Vidal, C., & Katzenstein, J. (2024, September 30). Social Media and Mental Health in Children and Teens. Hopkinsmedicine.org; Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/social-media-and-mental-health-in-children-and-teens