I am writing in support of Gov. Spencer Cox’s bill to require parent’s permission for children to use social media platforms. I firmly believe that excessive social media and cell phone usage among kids plays a significant role in Utah’s unacceptable suicide rates.
We have been in the top 10 states for suicide until a recent drop to number 14. It feels like progress until you realize 630 Utahns lost their lives to suicide in 2021. In 2020, suicide was the leading cause of death for Utahns ages 10 to 17 and 18-24.
This is a wake-up call for parents, educators and policymakers alike.
Social media platforms and smartphones have become an integral part of our children’s lives. While these technologies offer valuable opportunities for communication and learning, they also expose young minds to an unprecedented level of pressure, comparison and cyberbullying. The need to measure up to carefully curated online figures has a proven link to lowering self esteem in all humans let alone impressionable adolescents.
Studies have shown a troubling correlation between increased screen time and mental health issues, including depression and suicidal ideation. It is essential to recognize that the relentless pursuit of likes, shares, and online validation can exacerbate the feelings of hopelessness and despair already experienced by our youth.
It is crucial for parents and caregivers to set boundaries regarding screen time, encourage open dialogue, lead by example, and assume that you don’t know what’s going on in their phones.
Let’s start minimizing our children’s social media exposure. It takes communities banding together on these beliefs to create a new norm. Their lives and mental health are worth it and small interventions like this bill can create necessary change.
McKell Schreiner, Holladay
