U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy urged on Monday for health warnings on social media platforms targeting younger users, likening the mental health crisis among youth to an emergency requiring immediate action.

In an op-ed in The New York Times, Murthy emphasized that social media significantly contributes to this crisis and called on Congress to mandate surgeon general’s warning labels on these platforms, similar to those on cigarette packs.

Murthy cited the effectiveness of tobacco warning labels in raising awareness and changing behaviors, and questioned why social media harms are not being addressed with the same urgency as other public safety issues like car and food safety, ABC News has reported.

His office had previously issued an advisory on the potential negative effects of social media on teenagers, urging companies to enhance safety and privacy.

Written by B.C. Begley