Citing a mental health crisis among young people, California lawmakers target social media

Last year, the US surgeon general, Dr Vivek Murthy, highlighted the nation’s youth mental health crisis and pointed to social media use as a potential contributor. — Gadget photo created by freepik - www.freepik.com

Karla Garcia said her son’s social media addiction started in fourth grade, when he got his own computer for virtual learning and logged on to YouTube. Now, two years later, the video-sharing site has replaced both schoolwork and the activities he used to love — like composing music or serenading his friends on the piano, she said.

“He just has to have his YouTube,” said Garcia, 56, of West Los Angeles.