Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta and founder of Facebook faced an angry audience on Capitol Hill last week.

Zuckerberg, after some prodding at a U.S. Senate Judiciary hearing on the impact of social media on children, stood and issued an apology to an audience filled with families who said their children were harmed by social media use. His companies, notably Facebook and Instagram, are not alone in shouldering the blame. The hearing looked at child sexual exploitation online, and also included CEOs from Discord, Snap, X and TikTok, and featured a video of children speaking about their experiences with online bullying, abuse and more.

Zuckerberg, reading from a prepared script, said there was no scientific proof of a causal link between social media use and negative mental health effects.

There’s enough evidence to suggest otherwise.

Research suggests that there is a complex relationship between social media use and mental health, and findings can vary depending on individual factors and specific patterns of social media engagement. While social media can offer various benefits, such as facilitating social connections, providing information, and supporting self-expression, there are also concerns about its potential negative impact on mental health. Potential links between social media use and negative mental health effects include, but are not limited to cyberbullying, low self-esteem and social isolation.

Cyberbullying also occurs via text messaging and messaging apps on mobile or tablet devices and online chatting over the internet. It’s one reason why many local schools have sought to restrict the use of cell phones inside the school, but are helpless to do anything once the school day is done.

Preventing cyberbullying requires a multi-faceted approach involving individuals, educators, parents, and policymakers. It is an ongoing effort that requires collaboration among individuals, families, schools, and communities.

Congress may be able to regulate the social media giants in ways that can help our children, and the billionaires who run these companies certainly need to do more, but it starts at home. We must encourage open communication between parents, teachers, and students and make sure children feel comfortable discussing their online experiences. We also need to teach individuals to report any incidents of cyberbullying promptly.

By promoting a culture of respect and responsibility, we can work towards creating a safer online environment for everyone.