New York City Deems Social Media A Public Safety Hazard

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has designated social media as a public safety hazard due to its negative impact on mental health, as stated in his State of the City Address in January.

New York City now considers social media a public safety hazard due to its impact on mental health. Mayor Eric Adams declared the news at the annual State of the City Address on Jan. 24, making NYC the first in the nation to do so.

In his speech, as covered by The Washington Post, Adams noted how social media can negatively impact youth of all ages, especially in regard to their mental health. He cited popular websites such as TikTok and YouTube for their “addictive” features that have contributed to the issue.

“Companies like TikTok, YouTube, Facebook are fueling a mental health crisis by designing their platforms with addictive and dangerous features,” explained the mayor.

Upon the announcement, Adams stated that the New York City Health Commissioner will be treating social media and its usage by younger age groups as a “public health crisis hazard.” Under this distinction, the city issued an advisory explaining the issue further, urging parents to monitor their children’s time spent online and advising on how to implement healthy boundaries.

With the Pew Research Center determining that nearly 95% of teens in America are present on these various apps, social media’s correlation to the growing mental health crisis in teens cannot be overlooked. The advisory noted that between the years of 2011 and 2021, a decade in which access and popularity in social media usage rose, rates of suicidal ideation did as well, by over 34%.

In a study conducted on the social media habits and mental health in adolescents of color, Black youth were subjected to the most racism on various social media platforms. The study noted how racism impacts one’s mental health, with more hours spent online also correlating with depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.

The heightened exposure to racial injustice and direct harassment, often due to civic engagement via these platforms, found within social media usage, and its impact on one’s mental health is still being uncovered. However, communities nationwide are developing safety strategies to combat this possible correlation while also protecting the wellness of younger users, starting in New York City.