U.S. Surgeon General holds conversation on social media and youth mental health [Video]

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – For many people, picking up the phone and scrolling through social media is a mindless activity. It’s something people do for hours every day. On Tuesday, the U.S. Surgeon General stopped in Lincoln for a discussion on social media and how it’s impacting youth across the country.

Dozens of people gathered at Bryan East to hear from Dr. Vivek Murthy about the topic. It’s something he said kids and their parents are struggling with all over, and is urging people to take action.

Murthy said while there can be benefits to using social media, there are harmful impacts on children.

“The increase in risk of anxiety and depression symptoms, the effect on how kids feel about themselves, particularly about their body image, the erosion of time that was previously going to sleep and learning and in person interaction,” Dr. Murthy said.

Dr. Murthy said on average, …