After months of decrying the negative impacts of social media on young people’s mental health, Mayor Eric Adams took a concrete step toward combating the issue earlier this week by officially designating limitless access to platforms like TikTok and Facebook a public health hazard.
Adams announced the designation, as part of an advisory from city Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan, during his State of the City address in the Bronx on Wednesday. The action was one of the splashier items in Adams’ speech and quickly made national headlines.