There's no evidence which demonstrates a causative link between decline in mental health and social media use in teens. It's all complete bullshit.
Oh yeah, no links of any kind.
Those who had spent four or more hours with screens were 4.78 times more likely to have underdeveloped communication skills, 1.74 times more likely to have subpar fine motor skills and two times more likely to have underdeveloped personal and social skills by age 2. By age 4, risk remained only in the communication and problem-solving categories.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/21/health/screen-time-child-development-delays-risks-wellness
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0885201423000242
Recommendations regarding screen-based media use.
Screen-based media use by young children – recommendations
Parents:
• No screen time for children younger than 2 years, with an exception of video chatting
• Minimize screen time for children 2–5 (max 1 h), providing alternative activities
• Avoid exposing children to background screens, e.g., by turning TV off if no one is watching or when child is present in the room
• Engage in co-viewing and mediating strategies, by e.g., creating rules on screen-time and which content is allowed to be viewed, explaining what is happening on the screen, asking questions about viewed content
• Select interactive media content and use media together with your child
• Avoid fast-paced programs and apps with highly distracting content, select programs that are not interrupted with commercials
• Screen media should not be used as means to calm children, with an exception of special times, e.g., during medical procedures or flights
• Use of screen-devices should be avoided by all family members during meal and playtimes, right before nap/bedtime, and during family gatherings
• Discuss any concerns regarding child screen-media use with healthcare providers
• Create a personalized media plan using a Family Media Plan platform developed by AAP with the help of a healthcare provider if necessary
... What, are you gonna say 'well thats young kids, not teens'... as if effects that start at an early age don't compound overtime with the same usage patterns?
You ever seen the videos of those kids that will scream and cry... untill the device is given back?
The pre-teens and tweens who will destroy a parent's car, knowing they are on camera, because they confiscated their device?
Sorry, but a whole lot of the root of this issue is parents who are utterly checked the fuck out.
Unless you're gonna propose regulating the ability to have a child, have the state raise these kids in lieu of the parents... everything else is just a bandaid.
The kind of fixes to society that would be required to address this in a non restrictive way would basically be: Fix the entire economy such that parents can afford to have time with their kids.
Mental health care availability?
Do Medicare for all first, then, maybe we can talk about that, otherwise, can't afford it, who cares.
Youth centers?
You seen how expensive cars are, how much debt people are in for them? Who can afford to drive the kids there and back, who has the time?
Your bandaid solutions are very far from being sufficient to address what is basically the total collapse of society.