The American Psychological Association (APA) has expressed support for the U.S. Surgeon General's recent call to highlight the potential dangers of social media platforms to children. In a statement, Mitch Prinstein, PhD, Chief Science Officer of the APA, emphasized the alignment between the Surgeon General's concerns and the APA's findings.

"We applaud Surgeon General Vivek Murthy for calling attention to the potential dangers to children posed by social media platforms," said Prinstein. He referenced the APA's 2023 health advisory on social media use in adolescence and its 2024 follow-up report, which also raised similar concerns.

Prinstein noted that research indicates young people are particularly susceptible to specific content and functions on social media that interact with their neural and psychological vulnerabilities during adolescence. "We concur with the surgeon general's reliance on psychological science to offer warnings to protect kids from harm on these platforms," he added.

The APA joins the Surgeon General in urging policymakers to take action and assist parents in managing products designed to maximize children's engagement without adequate safeguards for their developmental needs.