HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 05-06-25; 8-f - Board of Health (BOH) Resolution Addressing Social Media Use, Screen Time, and Mental Health 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: May 6, 2025
Action Agenda
Item No. 8-f
SUBJECT: Board of Health (BOH) Resolution Addressing Social Media Use, Screen Time,
and Mental Health
DEPARTMENT: Health, Board of
Commissioners
ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT:
Quintana Stewart, Orange County
Board of Health Resolution Health Director, 919-245-2412
PURPOSE: To:
1) Recognize social media use among youth as a significant public health concern and mental
health risk as detailed in the attached resolution from the Orange County Board of Health;
and
2) Express support for countywide recognition of"Screen Free Week" during May 5-11, 2025.
BACKGROUND: During its March 2024 Annual Retreat, the Orange County Board of Health
adopted three Priority Areas to align with the 2023 Community Health Assessment Priorities.
These priorities included Access to Care, Behavioral Health and Connections to Community
Support. The Board create committees to do additional work to support these priority areas. The
Behavioral Health Committee has a focus on mental health, suicide and substance use. Some of
the work related to mental health has led to a narrow focus on social media/screen time and the
impact on youth mental health. Dr. Aparna Jonnal, former BOH Chair, expressed concern about
screen time and social media and the impact on youth. As an Emergency Department physician,
Dr. Jonnal has observed behaviors from young patients that has been unsettling. Members of
the Behavioral Health Committee have researched the issue and received presentations from
staff at the UNC Gillings School of Public Health. Health Director Quintana Stewart has met with
Superintendents from both the local school districts to understand their respective policies related
to cell phones at school.
As a result of the information gathered, the Board of Health drafted a resolution during its March
15, 2025 Annual Board Retreat to highlight the impact of social media and screen time on youth
mental health. The BOH seeks to promote the national cam paign,"Screen-Free Week", observed
May 5 — 11, 2025, as a way to educate the Orange County community on the potential harmful
effects of screen time and social media to youth mental health.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no Orange County financial impact associated with this item.
2
ALIGNMENT WITH STRATEGIC PLAN: This item supports:
• GOAL 2: HEALTHY COMMUNITY
OBJECTIVE 1. Improve harm reduction, prevention, and support services for adults and
children experiencing behavioral health issues, substance use disorder, and intellectual or
developmental disability.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board:
1) Recognize social media use among youth as a significant public health concern and mental
health risk as detailed in the resolution from the Orange County Board of Health; and
2) Express support for countywide recognition of"Screen Free Week" during May 5-11, 2025.
"Y 3
ORANGE COUNTY
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Improving health. Inspiring change.
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH
RESOLUTION ADDRESSING SOCIAL MEDIA USE, SCREEN TIME,AND YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH
WHEREAS, according to a recent survey one-third of all teens report being online and using social media platforms "almost
constantly";' and
WHEREAS, a 2023 U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory warned that while social media may offer benefits, there is growing
evidence of risks to youth mental health including anxiety, depression, and reduced quality of sleep;2 and
WHEREAS, studies have found correlations between time spent on social media and mental health including one study
that found risk of anxiety and depression doubled in youth that spent more than three hours daily on social media;3 and
WHEREAS, adolescence represents a critical time in the brain development and studies have reported social media may
result in addictive behavior, decreased attention span, and lower test scores;4,5,6 and
WHEREAS, growing reports suggest social media can expose youth to cyberbullying, inappropriate content, and heavily
edited comparisons that can lead to eating disorders, body dissatisfaction, and suicidal ideation;6 and
WHEREAS, evidence-based strategies to reduce the risks of social media include implementing device-free school policies,
setting screen-time limits at home, avoiding screens before bedtime, and educating families about the psychological effects
of social media;6,7,$ and
WHEREAS, time spent on social media and screens decreases time for exercise, sleep, in-person time with friends, and
other activities that are thought to improve mental health and healthy social development(for youth and adults).2,3,4,5,6
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED on this 261h day of March 2025, that we the Orange County Board of Health:
1. Recognize social media use among youth as a significant public health concern and mental health risk.
2. Recommend parents and caregivers establish screen-time limits for their children/teens, particularly restricting
device use on school nights and before bedtime, to promote healthy sleep habits.
3. Urge parents to consider delaying getting their children smartphones and exploring pledges with other parents like
the"Wait Until 8th" initiative.9
4. Encourage parents and young people to explore the resources listed below to further understand the impact of
digital technology on youth development.
5. Support"Away for the Day" policies in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools and Orange County Schools that restrict
personal device use during school hours to support focus and well-being.
6. Suggest Orange County school districts or the county explore joining ongoing class action lawsuits against social
media companies,with the goals of funding additional mental health services for youth and/or requiring social media
companies to improve their age verification and parental controls.10
7. Support the countywide adoption of "Screen-Free Week" during May 5-11, 2025, as observed by Chapel Hill-
Carrboro City Schools and encourage parents and children of the county to participate."
8. Support statewide legislation, such as Senate Bill 55,that would join NC with other states in requiring school districts
to have policies around use of cellphones during the day and nationwide legislation that would require social media
companies to have more effective age/parental consent verification.12,13
9. Support educational efforts that inform families, schools, and policymakers about the risks of social media use and
the importance of digital wellness.
ou,
Alison Stuebe, MD, MSc QLYintana Stewart, MPA
Chair, Orange County Board of Health Orange County Health Director
919 245 2405 > 300 West Tryon Street Hillsborough, NC 27278 > orangecountync.gov
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ORANGE COUNTY
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Improving health. Inspiring change.
REFERENCES AND RESOURCES:
1. Sidoti, Michelle Faverio and Olivia. "Teens, Social Media and Technology 2024." Pew Research Center
(blog), December 12, 2024. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2024/12/12/teens-social-media-and-
techr-
2. U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health (2023).
https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/reports-and-publications/youth-mental-health/social-media/index.html
3. Riehm KE, Feder KA,Tormohlen KN, Crum RM,Young AS, Green KM, Pacek LR, La Flair LN, Mojtabai R.
"Associations Between Time Spent Using Social Media and Internalizing and Externalizing Problems Among
US Youth."JAMA Psychiatry. 2019 Dec 1;76(12):1266-1273. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.2325.
https://por.
4. Lissak, Gadi. "Adverse Physiological and Psychological Effects of Screen Time on Children and Adolescents:
Literature Review and Case Study." Environmental Research 164(July 2018): 149-57.
ittps://doi.org/l 0. 2018.01.01(;.
5. Twenge, Jean. iGen: Why Today's Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant,
Less Happy--and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood--and What That Means for the Rest of Us. (2017).
6. Haidt, Jonathan. The Anxious Generation:How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of
Mental Illness. (2024).
7. Muppalla, Sudheer Kumar, Sravya Vuppalapati,Apeksha Reddy Pulliahgaru, and Himabindu Sreenivasulu.
"Effects of Excessive Screen Time on Child Development:An Updated Review and Strategies for
Management." Cureus 15, no. 6(June 2023):e40608.
8. American Psychological Association, "Health Advisory on Social Media Use in Adolescence" (2023).
https://wv, apa.org/topic social-media-internet/health-advisory-adolescent-social-media-use
9. Wait Until 8th. "Wait Until 8th."Accessed March 19, 2025. https://www.waituntil8th.org."Wait Until 8th"
Campaign, /vww. Jilft.ora.
10. Scofield, Sydnee. "Wake County school board joins lawsuit against social media giants."ABC 11 News,
February 20, 2024.Accessed March 20, 2025. 'nttps://abc1 I.com/social-media-lawsuit-wake-couiity-setiools-
�on/1445
11. Screen-Free Week.Accessed March 19, 2025. https://screenfree.org/about/
12. "NC Senate Bill 55, Student Use of Wireless Communication Devices." NC General Assembly.Accessed
March 19, 2025.
13. "Social Media and Children 2024 Legislation." National Conference of State Legislatures.Accessed March
19, 2025. hitps://www.ncsi.org/teciinology-and-communication/social-media-and-children-2024-legisiaLiori.
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