HB24-1136, Healthier Social Media Use by Youth, aims to address a driving factor in the current youth mental health crisis – social media use. The Colorado Catholic Conference applauds the sponsors of this legislation for introducing an evidenced based, commonsense bill that works to empower parents and protect young people from the adverse health outcomes associated with high social media use.
The research on the relationship between social media use and poor mental health outcomes is clear. Adverse outcomes related to screen-time and the overuse of social media include increased risk of obesity[1], depression and anxiety[2] and worsened body image[3]. With 95 percent of young people between the ages of 13 and 17 using social media[4] and many doing so “almost constantly,” this is a crisis that we cannot ignore.
HB 1136 respects parental rights, acknowledging the role of parents as primary educators of their children. The bill gives parents the necessary resources to understand the harmful effects of social media use address without mandating a solution. It is incumbent on parents – not the state – to read the research and develop a plan that protects their children. HB 1136 makes the research accessible and obvious to parents and their children.
Furthermore, a recent poll of Colorado registered voters indicated strong support from the public, across age groups, income levels, and party identification, to regulate social media platforms to protect youth. Coloradans want action.
HB 1136 respects parental rights, keeps the state’s regulatory authority in check, while also promoting the common good and protecting Colorado youth.
[1] Robinson TN, Banda JA, Hale L, Lu AS, Fleming-Milici F, Calvert SL, Wartella E. Screen Media Exposure and Obesity in Children and Adolescents. Pediatrics. 2017 Nov
[2] Riehm KE, Feder KA, Tormohlen KN, et al. Associations Between Time Spent Using Social Media and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems Among US Youth. JAMA Psychiatry. 2019
[3] Bickham, D.S., Hunt, E., Bediou, B., & Rich, M. (2022). Adolescent Media Use: Attitudes, Effects, and Online Experiences. Boston, MA: Boston Children’s Hospital Digital Wellness Lab
[4] Teens, Social Media and Technology 2022 Pew Research Center