A silent epidemic

On June 17, 2024, the US surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy, announced that he would push for a warning label on social media platforms advising parents that using the platforms might damage their teenagers’ mental health, according to a report by The New York Times. However, this action, similar to warning labels that appear on tobacco and alcohol products, requires approval by the US Congress, says the report.

This is the authoritative statement I've been waiting for ever since I realized the danger that the combination of smartphones and social media poses to our communities, especially to our youth. My realization was further reinforced two years ago when I began teaching Media and Information Literacy (MIL) to senior high school students at the university.

In a 19-page advisory entitled “Social Media and Youth Mental Health”, the US surgeon general analyzed the impacts of social media on children and adolescents. Although it acknowledged some benefits of social media, it raised concerns about social media’s adverse effects on youth mental health and well-being, especially given the highly-sensitive period of brain development during adolescence.

The advisory encouraged lawmakers and government regulators to implement and enforce safer digital environment standards, urged technology companies to prioritize user health in their design processes and be transparent with data sharing, and advised parents to monitor and guide their children's social media use effectively.

I hope our own policymakers in the Philippines, including schools, will take their cue from the US surgeon general’s advisory and urgently act on this matter. This problem has become a ‘silent epidemic’ or an 'invisible crisis'--pervasive yet often overlooked or unacknowledged, even though its effects are critical and widespread.

In an episode of CNA Insider aired last July 30, 2024, entitled “Insight: Young and Lonely in the Philippines”, the Singapore-based broadcast news outlet Channel News Asia reported that in November of the previous year, the World Health Organization declared loneliness a 'Global Public Health Concern.' “Meanwhile, Gen Zs are emerging as the loneliest generation ever,” the documentary states. “Filipino youths are the loneliest in Southeast Asia, with about six in ten Filipinos reporting feelings of loneliness. This rate is more than double the global average and significantly higher than in neighboring ASEAN countries.”

It thus asked, “For a country known for their friendliness, why do young Filipinos struggle with social alienation?” The overuse of social media was prominently featured in the episode as one of the reasons why young Filipinos feel increasingly alone and face mental health challenges.

The report states that the Philippines is home to 87 million social media users, about 73% of the total population, with this number growing about 8% annually. When it comes to time spent on social media, the Philippines is ranked fourth in the world. Each day, an average Filipino spends three hours and 34 minutes on social platforms, significantly more than their Southeast Asian neighbors. This heavy use of social media has raised deep concerns for Filipino youths, the report says.

Instead of spending time on social media, our youths should be learning from sports, particularly from our athletes currently competing in the Paris Olympics. If I may quote a netizen, these athletes “should be the true influencers of our time. Unlike clout chasers in vlogs and social media, who are willing to compromise good values for fame, athletes embody dedication and integrity.”

Two recent local events also highlight some of the complex challenges presented by social media use today. The case involving local celebrity Jude Bacalso began as an important discussion about ‘misgendering’ and the need for kindness in our advocacies. Yet, the spread of fake accounts purporting to be Bacalso's has led to misjudgments and an ugly bandwagon effect.

Likewise, the post on social media about animal cruelty --specifically, puppies allegedly being fed to snakes in Carmen, Cebu-- shows how misinformation can lead to unnecessary public outrage. People react to and spread unverified claims, leading to a waste of police resources.

Both cases exemplify how social media can easily distort public perception and response. I’m glad the US surgeon general has spoken out about the real dangers of social media, and I hope this prompts more discussion among our policymakers. By doing so, we can fully expose and address this silent epidemic that is damaging our youth’s mental health and undermining our society’s ability to discuss issues in a fair and decent manner.