YH Spotlight: Social Media & Mental Health at the Milken Global Conference!

David Beckham, Kerry Washington, Magic Johnson, and Elon Musk were among the hundreds of iconic entertainers and business leaders who attended the Milken Global Conference 2024 in Beverly Hills earlier this month.

YH was there to cover the star-studded event, and among the many important topics discussed, one stood out: “Digital Media and Youth Mental Health”. With many teenagers spending at least 7 hours every day on apps like TikTok and Instagram, it’s clear that social media has been contributing to a number of mental health trends, such as increased anxiety, social isolation, bullying, and body image issues. According to one panelist, this isn’t an accident but part of a strategy called "enragement".

“Algorithms figured out what makes you view the longest. Whatever your trigger is, A.I. will figure out what that trigger is, and maximize it,” said Bill Ready, CEO of the social media site Pinterest.

“These platforms are designed to keep your eyeballs as long as possible. The industry makes about a billion dollars a year with ads targeting minors,” added Dr. Ashwin Vasan, Health Commissioner of New York City.

The question is how to fix it. Social media and smartphones are here to stay. But right now, there are too many negative outcomes. As panelist Jennifer Seibel Newsom explained, California recently passed a law to try to help, but the social media companies are fighting it in court. Pinterest isn’t waiting for any legal requirements. Its CEO has taken a first step to a healthier and safer user experience by making sure that the profiles and messaging of users 16 and younger aren’t publicly discoverable. The goal is to reduce online bullying and negative comments.

All the panelists agreed that, just as car makers didn’t install seatbelts until the government required it, social media won’t become truly safe without regulations. But everyone was also hopeful for the future of social media. Sherrie Westin, the President of Sesame Workshop, talked about how television was seen as negative for years until “Sesame Street” proved it could be used to help educate children.

As Dr. Vasan added, “Social media can be a powerful addictive substance. But it’s not about taking anything away from anybody. It’s about reshaping our relationship to it.”

At YH, we are committed to making sure everyone who engages with our content feels healthy and safe, putting efforts and resources into providing a safe space and creating digital wellbeing throughout the YH community/channels!