Lawmakers right to battle effects of youth scrolling

U.S. Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, has thrown his support behind an effort to keep kids safer when it comes to social media. But the Stop the Scroll Act isn't about the kinds of online dangers some parents may be thinking. It would create a mental health warning label requirement for social media. "As more and more children and teens use social media, a warning label should be prominently displayed highlighting the potential harms of using social media platforms. The Stop the Scroll Act would help young people grasp the mental health risks that come with social media. I'll continue to back solutions that prioritize the safety of our kids and communities," said Husted. According to numbers from Husted's office, children and teenagers spend an average of 3.5 hours a day on social media. That's enough to increase the risks for depression, anxiety and other mental health concerns. Think of the effect it has on adults who spend too much time comparing themselves to others or giving in to the standards set by "influencers" on social media. Children are even less equipped to combat that kind of onslaught. Further, the warning label would also point social media users to resources such as the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Such a law would be important progress toward turning the tide we have released on our children. But warning labels are not enough. We know that from other harmful products that bear labels … and that some users ignore, anyway. Talk to your kids about what they are seeing and how it is affecting them. Consider limiting their screen time to less than 3 hours a day. And set the example — it wouldn't hurt all of us to step back from social media platforms to at least some degree. Moderation is the key, as is acknowledging what it is doing to us and our kids. Bravo to Husted and his fellow supporters of the Stop the Scroll Act. As lawmakers give it serious consideration, the rest of us should take the proposal as a reminder that — label or not — we can do better for ourselves and our kids when it comes to the way social media affects our mental health. OGDEN NEWSPAPERS