New York City has officially declared social media a threat to public health.

New York became the first city in the United States to declare social media a “threat to public health.” During a conversation with reporters, the mayor of the metropolis, Eric Adams, said that the head of the Department of Health, Ashwin Vasan, classified popular applications as “environmental toxins” that harm teenagers.

The mayor's office said the mental health of young New Yorkers has been "in decline for more than a decade." Data for 2021 shows that on weekdays, 77% of New York City high school students spend at least three hours a day in front of their phone or computer screens, not counting homework.

Adams said TikTok, YouTube and Facebook are "fuelling a mental health crisis by outfitting their platforms with addictive and dangerous features."

“We are the first major American city to take this step and officially declare the dangers of social networks,” the mayor said. “It’s like tobacco and weapons.” "We treat social media the same as other public health threats and will ensure that tech companies take responsibility for their products."

“We will not allow technology to endanger our children,” Adams stressed.

Parents are being urged to limit children's access to social media until they are 14 years old. Schools are proposing technology-free days, and doctors are expected to talk to young patients about the dangers of social media.

However, the city has not yet explained how exactly it plans to limit the risks from social networks. This classification and plans for its application will be discussed in more detail in the near future.

New York could follow California's lead and introduce regulations like CAADCA to limit the amount and type of data companies can collect about minor users.

In May 2023, US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned that excessive social media use poses a "serious risk" to the mental health of young people.

The guidelines state that social media has both positive and negative effects on young people. According to Pew Research, 59% of teens reported that social media helps them feel more accepted in society. But the guidelines say there is insufficient “research and clear evidence” to determine whether social media is “safe” for teens to use.

“Although some children benefit from social media, there is not enough evidence to conclude that social media is safe enough,” Murthy said. “Instead, there is growing evidence that many children are being harmed by social media use.”

“Our children became unsuspecting participants in an experiment that lasted decades,” Murthy said at the time. “And while we have yet to learn the full impact of social media use on their health and well-being, we know enough now to take action and protect our children.”