Former surgeon general recommends delaying children using social media for 'as long as possible'

Former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy again called on parents in an interview Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" to regulate their children's use of social media to protect their mental health — particularly at younger ages.

"Delaying the use of social media for your kid as long as possible is important," Murthy told host Kristen Welker. "The bottom line is these devices, these platforms, in particular, social media platforms, are having an effect on our children."

He cited 16 years old as a "benchmark" but said that could vary from child to child.

"The adolescent brain is not the same as an adult brain. ... They are more susceptible to social comparison, to social suggestion, their impulse control is not as well developed, and that puts them more at risk of the negative effects of social m