Washington, Jan 20 (NationPress) The pervasive use of smartphones and social media among young individuals is leading to a significant increase in depression, anxiety, and suicide, according to prominent lawmakers and experts in the United States, who have labeled it a public health crisis requiring immediate government intervention.

During a Senate Commerce Committee hearing titled “Plugged Out: Examining the Impact of Technology on America’s Youth,” Senator Ted Cruz expressed growing concerns among parents regarding their children's screen time and the types of content they engage with.

Cruz revealed that children aged 8 to 12 are now averaging 5.5 hours of screen time daily, while teenagers exceed 8.5 hours each day. “More than half of a teenager’s waking hours are spent glued to a screen,” he remarked, deeming this trend extremely alarming for both parents and educators.

Psychologist Jean Twenge informed lawmakers that the youth mental health crisis intensified dramatically after 2012, coinciding with the widespread adoption of smartphones and the transformation of social media from optional to essential for adolescents.

“The incidence of clinical-level depression among adolescents and young adults doubled from 2011 to 2019,” Twenge stated. She further noted that emergency room visits for self-harm among girls aged 15 to 19 doubled and quadrupled for those aged 10 to 14 during the same timeline, with suicide rates also doubling.

Twenge emphasized that the timing of this mental health decline did not correlate with economic factors but closely followed the proliferation of smartphones and social media. “This was the first time the majority of Americans owned smartphones,” she explained, calling it a critical moment for adolescent behavior.

Maria Cantwell, Ranking Member, highlighted that social media platforms are intentionally engineered to capture attention, employing algorithms that keep young users engaged. She cited research indicating that teenagers devote over an hour daily to smartphones during school hours alone, frequently on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Cantwell pointed out studies linking extensive social media use to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and isolation among youth. She also referenced findings showing that about 40 percent of teenagers display concerning media addiction patterns, which doubles the likelihood of suicidal behavior.

Pediatrician Jenny Radesky remarked that many digital products used by children were not designed with youth development in mind. “Most digital products for youth were created by adults for adults and adjusted for children only after harms were identified,” she said.

Radesky cautioned that engagement-driven designs often conflict with essential needs such as sleep, homework, and family time. She mentioned that constant notifications, algorithm-driven feeds, and compulsive design features hinder children's ability to disengage, contributing to stress and emotional instability.

Several senators voiced their concerns that schools exacerbate the issue by providing internet-connected devices to students without adequate safeguards. Cruz noted that many parents struggle to regulate screen time when children are required to use laptops or tablets for educational purposes.

“Few parents believe it has become easier to manage their kids' screen time when schools issue tablets,” he stated, advocating for an evaluation of classroom technology to determine whether it enhances learning or causes harm.

Experts have also warned that sleep deprivation and diminished face-to-face interactions are intensifying the crisis. Twenge highlighted that teenagers now spend markedly less time socializing in person and are sleeping less than previous generations, both of which are strongly correlated with adverse mental health outcomes.

Lawmakers from both parties expressed concern that the problem is likely to worsen as artificial intelligence becomes more integrated into platforms frequented by children, increasing their exposure to addictive and emotionally manipulative content.