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U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy is calling for stronger guidelines for social media use among children and teens, pointing to a growing body of research that the platforms may pose what he described as a "profound risk" to young people's mental health.

In a report issued on Tuesday, Murthy urged technology companies and lawmakers to take "immediate action" by formulating policies to protect young people from "addictive apps and extreme and inappropriate content" on platforms such as Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat. Current guidelines on social media use have been shaped by media platforms and are inadequate, he added.

"Our children and adolescents don't have the luxury of waiting years until we know the full extent of social media's impact," Murthy said in the 25-page . "Their childhoods and development are happening now."

The Surgeon General advised parents to create "tech-free zones" for their children and to model healthy relationships with their devices as more definitive research about social media usage comes out. His report also urged young people to refrain from sharing deeply personal information online and to reach out for help from trusted adults if they are harassed or bullied. 

Social media also can have a positive impact, such as helping teens "develop social connections" and creating "spaces for self-expression," he noted.  

While the research on the mental health impacts of social media usage isn't conclusive, many parents have expressed concern about the impact of tech on teens. For example, nearly three-quarters of U.S. parents of children under age 18 think social media imaging tools and filters are detrimental to young peoples' body image, according to a national conducted by the The Harris Poll. 

Their intuition may not be wrong. In one study, teens and young adults who halved their social media consumption reported improvements in how they felt about their weight and general appearances, published by the American Psychological Association found. 

Murthy offered other recommendations for  to help protect young people. 

Concerns about young people's use of social media and their overall wellness come at a time when mental  health issues are in young women. More than half of teen girls — an all-time high — reported feeling "," a 2021 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.