Top US doctor wants social media health warnings

 

Top US doctor wants social media health warnings   

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1N4E5QXDv4Y

Social media has changed the world. There are good and bad things about it. One bad thing is that it can cause mental health problems. This is something the USA's top  doctor wants to address. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy wants social media companies to display mental health warnings on their platforms. He is particularly worried about the harm the platforms do to young people. He said algorithms lead youngsters to extreme sexual and violent content. Dr Murthy said: "It is time to require a surgeon general's warning label on social media platforms, stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents." He said laws were also needed to keep young people safe online.

Dr Murthy has campaigned for tighter controls of social media for many years. In 2023, he warned that social media presented, "a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents". His recent warning is in a guest essay published by The New York Times. He wrote: "The mental health crisis among young people is an emergency. Social media has emerged as an important contributor." He has concerns about how long young people spend online. He said youngsters "who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of anxiety and depression symptoms". Murthy thinks online warnings will help, just as warnings on cigarettes have helped.

1. AGE LIMIT: Students A strongly believe people under the age of 16 should not be allowed to use social media; Students B strongly believe the opposite. Explain.
2. SOCIAL MEDIA: How does social media affect these things? Complete this table .

	Good Things	Bad Things
Mental health
Physical health
Friendships
English
Education
Photos and music

3.Vocabulary

    Paragraph 1

1.	cause (verb)	a.	A website, usually a social media one, where people can write, say or upload things.
2.	address (verb)	b.	More than usually; especially.
3.	display (verb)	c.	To make something happen.
4.	platform	d.	Using force to hurt people or things.
5.	particularly	e.	To talk about something or to speak to someone.
6.	algorithm	f.	To show something so people can see it.
7.	violent	g.	A set of rules or steps to solve a problem, often used by computers.

    Paragraph 2

8.	campaigned	h.	A sign that you have an illness.
9.	profound	i.	Worked in an organized way to reach a goal, often in politics.
10.	adolescent	j.	Very deep or very great.
11.	crisis	k.	Someone who gives or adds something to a group, project or discussion.
12.	contributor	l.	A very difficult or dangerous situation.
13.	anxiety	m.	A young person who is not a child but not yet an adult, usually between 13 and 19 years old.
14.	symptom	n.	A feeling of worry or fear about what might happen.

 

4. SYNONYM MATCH: Match the following synonyms from the article.

1. cause
2. display
3. require
4. associated
5. safe
6. tighter
7. profound
8. emerged
9. anxiety
10. warnings

1. linked
2. appeared
3. stricter
4. stress
5. bring about
6. great
7. cautions
8. need
9. show
10. secure

5.Role play: Choose one and don't choose the same as your classmates

Role  A – Social Media You think social media is the thing we most need warnings for. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as in need of warnings. Also, tell the others which is the thing we least need to be warned about (and why):

Role  B – Cigarettes You think cigarettes is the thing we most need warnings for. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as in need of warnings. Also, tell the others which is the thing we least need to be warned about (and why):

Role  C – Fast Food You think fast food is the thing we most need warnings for. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as in need of warnings. Also, tell the others which is the thing we least need to be warned about (and why):

Role  D – Jet Coasters You think jet coasters is the thing we most need warnings for. Tell the others three reasons why. Tell them why their things aren't as in need of warnings. Also, tell the others which is the thing we least need to be warned about (and why):  OR Alcohol Fast food Cars Bank loans Smartphones

6.Discussion - Social Media

1. What do you think of social media?
2. What are the good things about social media?
3. How does social media affect mental health?
4. Should there be health warnings on social media platforms?
5. What do you know about algorithms on social media?
6. Should people under 16 be allowed to use social media?
7. What do you think of the social media platforms you use?
8. What advice do you have for social media websites?

11. What are the bad things about social media?
12. What controls are needed on social media?
13. Should social media platforms be fined for damaging mental health?
14. What is the answer to the mental health emergency?
15. How long online is too long?
16. How big a problem are anxiety and depression?
17. What questions would you like to ask social media bosses?