In an era when digital technologies permeate every aspect of our lives, their impact on the population’s mental health is growing. Mikuláš Peksa, former Member of the European Parliament and member of the Legislative Board of the Institute for the Mental Health and Addiction Studies, warns of insufficient regulation of social media and its potentially negative effects on the well-being of European citizens.
Artificial Intelligence and Social Media as a New Challenge
One of the key topics Peksa addresses is the growing influence of social media and artificial intelligence on our society. “We have entered a world dominated by social media. They differ greatly from traditional media in how they present content, because they are individualized,” Peksa explains.
According to him, we face AI that autonomously decides what to show us, in what order, and with what priority. “In recent years, AI has undergone very rapid development. We are now in a state where we can build relatively autonomous agents,” Peksa notes.
This situation poses new challenges for mental health, as social-media algorithms can significantly shape our perception of reality and our emotional state. “Social media aggregate enormous amounts of data and exploit it in ways that are not always benign. One type of content clearly dominates,” he warns.
Insufficient Regulation and Its Consequences
Peksa points to the EU’s inadequate regulation of social media. “At the European Union level, the Digital Services Act was adopted, essentially a law regulating social media. However, as currently written, it is not sufficient to enforce an adequate response to contemporary demands,” he criticizes.
He cites Twitter (now X) as an example, where content manipulation is already blatant. “The European Commission is suing Elon Musk over Twitter. I fear that, given how the regulation is set up now, we won’t reach a meaningful solution,” he adds.
A Call to Action for Mental-Health Professionals
Peksa urges mental-health experts to engage actively in the debate on social-media regulation. “This is the moment I find relevant for all of you who are experts in mental health—speak up about its effects and the political need for action, because the situation is completely out of control,” he appeals.
He believes it would be wise to reopen discussion of the Digital Services Act and reassess its content in light of its impact on mental health. “It will probably require amending this law,” Peksa says.
The Future of European Mental-Health Policy
Peksa is convinced that the EU has the potential to become a pioneer in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapies. “In several Member States, such as the Czech Republic and Spain, successful ketamine clinics already exist,” he observes. In the context of Europe’s current mental-health crisis—exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing geopolitical challenges—Peksa stresses the need for innovative approaches and effective regulation of digital platforms, which wield ever-greater influence over our mental well-being.
“We live in an age when technology can be both a boon and a threat to our mental health,” Peksa concludes. “It is up to us to ensure that the regulatory framework is robust enough to protect citizens from negative impacts while still enabling innovation in the treatment of mental disorders.”