Courtesy Utah Governor’s Office
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox speaks at the NGA Youth Mental Health Roundtable Day on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2022.
What impact does social media have on your teen? According to Gov. Spencer Cox, likely not a good one.
During his monthly press conference Thursday, Cox urged parents and teachers to be honest with young people about the potential negative effects that social media use can have on them.
“We all need to talk to our young people about their mental health,” he said. “And we need to be honest about the negative effects that social media platforms and cell phones are having on young people, especially young women.”
According to a 2018 Pew Research Center survey of nearly 750 13-to-17-year-olds, 45% are online almost constantly and 97% use a social media platform, including but not limited to YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat.
A 2019 study by the Mayo Clinic, though, of more than 6,500 12-to-15-year-olds in the U.S. found that those who spent more than three hours a day using social media could be at heightened risk for mental health problems.
This week, Cox was joined by Phil Murphy, Governor of New Jersey and chair of the National Governor’s Association, and NGA representatives from New Jersey, Arkansas, New Mexico, Minnesota and Alabama in Salt Lake City to hear from researchers, clinicians, public health experts and more on the dangers of social media use.
The two-day convention was part of an effort to advance the NGA chair’s 2022-2023 initiative, Strengthening Youth Mental Health, first introduced in July.
“For far too long, our nation’s youth mental health crisis has been overlooked and those living with mental health challenges have been stigmatized. Families have lacked access and resources to get their children the critical assistance they need,” Murphy said in a press release. “It is past time we address this crisis head-on and empower communities to act together. As we navigate this issue, we remain committed to working with young people, parents, teachers, providers, and other stakeholders to ensure that our approach is well-rounded and offers the best support for children across the country.”
According to Cox, Strengthening Youth Mental Health initiative policy sessions will continue over the next year in different states across the country.
“When it comes to protecting our children and teens, everything should be on the table,” Cox said. “We really want to work to make our schools phone-free zones as much as possible, create a better learning environment for our students, and help teachers do their job more effectively. We want to hold social media companies more accountable.”
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