スマートフォンを手に、LINE をする女子高校生たち
＝2014年１月、新潟市中央区 The Asahi Shimbun file photo
米国の公衆衛生政策を指揮する医務総監が、ソーシャルメディアと若者の心の健康に関する勧告書を公表しました。良い効果をもたらす可能性がある一方、特に少女に深刻な影響を及ぼす懸念を表明し、政治家やIT企業に対して安全基準の強化を求めました。（Asahi Weekly : Sunday, June 11, 2023)
朝日新聞社が発行する週刊英和新聞「Asahi Weekly」からSDGsに関連する記事を掲載しています。（一覧に戻る）
Social media can profoundly harm the mental health of youth, particularly adolescent girls, the U.S. Surgeon General warned in an advisory on May 23, and he called for safeguards from tech companies for children who are at critical stages of brain development.
U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said that while social media offers some benefits, there are "ample indicators that social media could also harm children's well-being."
"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," Murthy said.
Social media use may cause and perpetuate body image issues, affect eating behaviors and sleep quality, and lead to social comparison and low self-esteem, especially among adolescent girls, the advisory said, citing responses from a survey conducted among adolescents.
Adolescents who spend more than three hours per day on social media face double the risk of experiencing poor mental health outcomes, such as symptoms of depression and anxiety, according to the advisory.
Most adolescents say social media helps them feel more accepted, more supported during tough times, more connected to their friends and more creative, the advisory also said.
It said policymakers should strengthen safety standards in ways that enhance those benefits for children of all ages, while noting that inappropriate and harmful content continues to be easily and widely accessible to children.
Tech companies should adhere to age limits to control access to social media platforms and be transparent about data regarding the impact of their products on children, the advisory urges. (Reuters)
語句のヒント
- profoundly 大いに
- adolescent 思春期の
- Surgeon General （米）医務総監
- advisory 勧告書
- safeguard(s) 安全対策
- critical 重大な、決定的な
- ample indicator(s) 十分な指標
- well-being 健康、幸福
- driver けん引役
- urgently address 早急に取り組む
- perpetuate ～を永続させる
- body…issue(s) 身体への不満
- social… self-esteem 他者との比較、自尊心の低下
- depression うつ状態
- adhere to ～を忠実に守る
朝日新聞社が発行する週刊英和新聞「Asahi Weekly」（朝日ウイークリー）は日本語ナビ付きで、初級者でも楽しみながら英語に慣れ親しむことができるオールカラーの新聞です。
英文ニュースや英語エッセー、朝日ウイークリー独自の英作文、英文法などの学習コラムから、国内外のニュース、エンタメ、クイズ、人生相談まで、多彩な内容で飽きさせません。美しい写真満載の旅行記、最新映画の英文シナリオと対訳、人気作家による連載小説など、楽しい読み物も豊富です。
朝日新聞社が発行する週刊英和新聞「Asahi Weekly」からSDGsに関連する記事を掲載しています。（一覧に戻る）
