Dr. Archana Dubey is chief medical officer of UnitedHealthcare of California. Valley News/Courtesy photo
Dr. Archana DubeyUnitedHealthcare of CaliforniaSocial media can be a great tool to help build connections, stay informed and engage with others. It can become all-consuming, however, and potentially damaging to adolescent brain development, which is a cause for concern.A recent advisory issued by U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy calls attention to the potential harmful effects social media has on children’s mental health. According to the report, 95% of teens ages 13-17 said they use social media, with more than a third saying they use it “almost constantly.” In addition, 40% of children ages 8-12 use social media, even though most platforms require users to be at least 13 to participate.According to a study in the report, teens who spend more than three hours
