Surgeon General Says a Warning Should Appear on All Social Media Platforms
On cigarette packs and many other things, we see Surgeon General warnings, but one may someday be appearing on all social media platforms. According to U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek…
TikTok logo is displayed on the screen of a smartphone. (Photo Illustration by Sheldon Cooper/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
(Photo Illustration by Sheldon Cooper/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)On cigarette packs and many other things, we see Surgeon General warnings, but one may someday be appearing on all social media platforms.
According to U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, it's time to make that happen. Murthy just released the Surgeon General’s Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health and says social media companies aren't doing nearly enough to keep their young users safe, and something needs to be done about it.
They say about 95% of kids between the ages of thirteen and seventeen are on social media, and the Department of Health and Human Services announced Dr. Murthy is issuing a "call for urgent action by policymakers, technology companies, researchers, families, and young people alike to discover the full impact of social media use and minimize the harms of social media platforms, and create safer, healthier online environments to protect children." The key age demographic of "near universal" social media use coincides with "a critical stage in brain development that can make young people more vulnerable to harms from social media," the agency explains.
Dr. Murthy says in his report, "The most common question parents ask me is, is social media safe for my kids? The answer is that we don't have enough evidence to say it's safe, and in fact, there is growing evidence that social media use is associated with harm to young people’s mental health." He goes on to say, "Children are exposed to harmful content on social media, ranging from violent and sexual content, to bullying and harassment. And social media use is compromising their sleep and valuable in-person time with family and friends."
The doctor goes on to say, "We are in the middle of a national youth mental health crisis, and I am concerned that social media is an important driver of that crisis one that we must urgently address." He also says platforms like TikTok haven't done enough to ensure kids aren't exposed to harmful content.
New Jersey Seatbelt Crackdown Launches In 134 Communities
New Jersey is cracking down on drivers and passengers who are not wearing seatbelts. The annual "Click It or Ticket" campaign began today (May 22) and runs through June 4. According to The Patch, $800,000 is awarded to local police for enhanced seat belt enforcement.
"Law enforcement agencies take a 'no-excuses' approach to seat belt enforcement," the Attorney General's office said. The maximum penalty for a seat belt violation in New Jersey is a $46 fine, added AG Matthew Platkin's office.
"Click It or Ticket" is aimed to help with senseless driving and the safety of drivers and passengers. According to data from the Division of Highway and Traffic Safety, 47% of all people killed in motor vehicle crashes were not wearing a seat belt. In 2021, 160 unrestrained people died in New Jersey roadway crashes.
"Too many New Jerseyans needlessly lose their lives due to motor vehicle-related fatalities, and reducing these preventable deaths is a top priority for my office," said Platkin. "Our campaign will help raise awareness of this critical and proven way of preventing serious injury or death in the event of a motor vehicle crash. Seat belts save lives – it’s that simple."
How Is "Click It or Ticket" funded?
A grant from The Division of Highway and Traffic Safety (HTS) goes to 134 New Jersey law enforcement agencies to fund the campaign, said Attorney General Matthew Platkin, per the outlet. The funds are used for "increased road patrols, seat belt checkpoints, and other enforcement initiatives during the campaign."
According to officials, last year's "Click It or Ticket" campaign garnered 8,373 seatbelt violations across the state. 3,315 summonses for speeding were written up, as well as 278 arrests for impaired driving.
"New Jerseyans need to grasp how important it is to buckle up, every time, anywhere you are going," said Michael J. Rizol Jr., Director of the Division of Highway Traffic Safety. "Taking a few seconds to buckle yourself in reduces your risk of fatal injury in a serious crash by fifty percent. There is no excuse for making the wrong decision, and if you do, you can expect to be pulled over and ticketed."
Take a look below at which communities are receiving grant money and how much per the AG office:
Atlantic County
http://www.atlanticcitynj.com
Absecon: $7,000
Brigantine: $5,250
Hamilton: $8,750
Hammonton: $7,000
Linwood: $7,000
Longport: $3,500
Mullica: $7,000
Northfield: $3,500
Pleasantville: $4,200
Ventnor: $4,200
Bergen County
Carlstadt: $7,000
Elmwood Park: $7,000
Englewood: $7,000
Fair Lawn: $7,000
Fairview: $7,000
Fort Lee: $8,750
Garfield: $7,000
Hackensack: $8,750
Lodi: $7,000
North Arlington: $7,000
Old Tappan: $7,000
Paramus: $7,000
River Vale: $7,000
Burlington County
http://www.co.burlington.nj.us
Burlington Township: $7,000
Pemberton: $7,000
Camden County
Gloucester: $8,750
Haddon Heights: $8,750
Winslow: $10,500
Cape May County
Avalon: $7,000
Lower: $7,000
Middle: $7,000
North Wildwood: $7,000
Wildwood: $7,000
Wildwood Crest: $7,000
Cumberland County
Vineland: $10,500
Essex County
Belleville: $7,000
Bloomfield: $7,000
Glen Ridge: $7,000
Livingston: $7,000
Montclair $10,500
Nutley: $7,000
South Orange: : $7,000
West Caldwell: $7,000
West Orange: $7,000
Gloucester County
Clayton: $1,400
Deptford: $7,000
East Greenwich: $2,800
Franklin: $5,600
Glassboro: $8,750
Greenwich: $1,680
Harrison: $2,800
Logan: $7,000
Mantua: $4,480
Monroe: $8,750
Paulsboro $2,800
Pitman: $2,800
Rowan University: $4,480
Washington: $7,000
Westville: $4,480
Woodbury; $5,600
Hudson County
Bayonne: $8,750
Hoboken: $8,750
North Bergen: $10,500
Secaucus: $7,000
Union City: $14,000
Hunterdon County
Clinton Town: $1,885
Clinton Township: $,1885
Flemington: $1,885
Frenchtown: $1,885
High Bridge: $1,885
Holland: $1,885
Lambertville: $1,885
Lebanon: $1,885
Tewksbury: $1,885
West Amwell: $1,885
Mercer County
East Windsor: $7,000
Ewing: $7,000
Hamilton: $8,750
Hightstown: $7,000
Hopewell: $7,000
West Windsor $7,000
Middlesex County
Carteret: $7,000
Metuchen: $7,000
Middlesex Borough: $7,000
Monroe: 8,750
North Brunswick: $7,000
Perth Amboy: $7,000
Plainsboro: $7,000
South Brunswick: $7,000
Monmouth County
Colts Neck: $7,000
Freehold Borough: $7,000
Freehold Township: $7,000
Highlands: $7,000
Howell: $7,000
Manalapan: $7,000
Middletown: $7,000
Morris County
Boonton Township: $7,000
Morristown: $7,000
Parsippany $8,750
Ocean County
Bay Head: $7,000
Berkeley: $7,000
Ocean Gate: $7,000
Lakewood: $10,500
Point Pleasant Borough: $7,000
Passaic County
Haledon: $7,000
Little Falls: $7,000
Passaic: $10,500
Paterson: $14,000
Pompton Lakes: $7,000
Prospect Park: $7,000
Woodland Park: $7,000
Somerset County
Bedminster: $1,885
Bernards: $1,885
Bernardsville: $1,885
Bound Brook: $1,885
Bridgewater: $1,885
Far Hills: $1,885
Franklin: $1,885
Green Brook: $1,885
Hillsborough: $1,885
Manville: $1,885
Montgomery: $1,885
North Plainfield: $1,885
Peapack and Gladstone: $1,885
Raritan: $1,885
Somerset County Sheriff: $1,885
South Bound Brook: $1,885
Warren: $1,885
Watchung: $1,885
Union County
Linden: $7,000
Plainfield: $7,000
Roselle: $7,000
Roselle Park: $7,000
Union: $8,750
