CONCORD, NH – If your child, teen or loved one has been negatively affected by a social media platform, the New Hampshire Attorney General’s office wants to hear from you.
The attorney general’s office is seeking public input for a national investigation into the impacts of social media on children and youth, amid what some are calling a youth mental health crisis.
“In recent years, there has been increased focus on the correlation between the development of serious mental health disorders by minors and time spent on social media,” the attorney general’s office said in a statement.
“There has also been a great deal of media attention on the responsibility of companies that own social media platforms to protect children and young adults from the known dangers of using their platforms,” the attorney general’s office said. “Eliminating the harmful effect of social media on our youth and holding social media platforms accountable for their actions is a top priority for the New Hampshire Department of Justice.”
In November 2021, under the direction of Attorney General John Formella, New Hampshire joined a national investigation into Meta Platforms Inc. for offering and promoting its social media platforms (Facebook and Instagram) to children and young adults “despite knowing that the use of these platforms is associated with an increased risk of harm to physical and mental health in young people , such as depression, eating disorders and even suicide,” the attorney general’s office said.
Investigators have since expanded their investigation to include ByteDance, which owns Tik Tok Inc.
“Any information about how these social media platforms have had an effect on the people of the Granite State would be valuable to our investigators in continuing their work,” the attorney general’s office said.
A report from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released in February found that nearly three in five teenage girls said they felt persistent sadness in 2021, and one in three girls seriously considered trying to kill themselves.
The findings were based on CDC surveys that US teenagers complete every two years. More than 17,200 high school students completed the surveys.
Anyone who has witnessed or experienced the negative impact of social media use on young people’s mental health is asked to email their personal stories and contact information to: SMPImpact@doj.nh. gov.
When emailing this information, officials ask the public to include: your name, contact information, the age of the affected person, a brief summary of what you viewed, and which social media platforms were involved.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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