The US surgeon general wants warning labels on social media platforms, similar to those found on cigarette packages. 

Surgeon general Dr Vivek Murthy, in an opinion piece for The New York Times, said social media significantly contributes to the mental health issues faced by adolescents. 

"It is time to require a surgeon general's warning label on social media platforms, stating that social media is associated with significant mental health harms for adolescents," Dr Murthy said. 

“A surgeon general's warning label, which requires congressional action, would regularly remind parents and adolescents that social media has not been proved safe.

“Evidence from tobacco studies show that warning labels can increase awareness and change behaviour.”

Dr Murthy said that while warning labels are essential, they are only part of a broader strategy to safeguard young people's mental health. 

Social media use is virtually universal among young people, with up to 95 per cent of those aged 13 to 17 using some platform, and over a third using it “almost constantly”, according to the Pew Research Center.

The Australian government is also monitoring these developments. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has expressed interest in the US proposal and says the government is making ongoing efforts to address social media use among teenagers in Australia.

While the warning label concept has garnered attention, implementing it in the US will require congressional approval, a process that is uncertain in its timeline despite bipartisan support for child safety online. 

Tech lobbies argue that such labels conflict with free speech rights.

Additionally, despite existing measures like age restrictions and usage limits, children have found it easy to circumvent the safety measures. 

In addition to legislative measures, Dr Murthy also called for companies to share data on health effects with independent scientists and conduct safety audits. 

He also urged schools and parents to implement phone-free times and for healthcare professionals to guide families toward safer practices.

Dr Fae Heaselgrave, a lecturer in communication and media at the University of South Australia, has warned against Australia’s plans for a blanket ban on social media for those under 16. 

“Such a punitive approach poses a severe threat to their participation in society and sense of belonging,” she said. 

Professor Amanda Third from the Institute for Culture and Society at Western Sydney University noted the complexity of the mental health issue. 

“Contrary to popular debate, there’s no conclusive evidence social media causes mental ill health. Mental health is complex and cannot be attributed to one cause,” she said. 

While Dr Murthy pushes for more to be done about social media in the United States, the European Union enacted groundbreaking new digital rules last year. 

The Digital Services Act (DSA) is part of a suite of tech-focused regulations crafted by the 27-nation bloc - long a global leader in cracking down on tech giants. 

The DSA is designed to keep users safe online and make it much harder to spread content that is either illegal, like hate speech or child sexual abuse, or violates a platform's terms of service. It also looks to protect citizens' fundamental rights such as privacy and free speech.

Officials have warned tech companies that violations could bring fines worth up to 6 per cent of their global revenue - which could amount to billions - or even a ban from the EU.