London: Social media ranks alongside smoking as a danger to children, British doctors said on Tuesday, as they urged lawmakers to tackle the harm that they say excessive screen time is causing to young people. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges detailed the impact of social media on children in a submission to the government's consultation on protecting children online, which closes on Tuesday.
According to Emirates News Agency, "It ranks alongside smoking and wearing seatbelts in cars as a unifying force for the medical profession." The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, which represents the UK and Ireland's 23 royal medical colleges and faculties, emphasized the consensus among clinicians on the detrimental effects of unrestricted tech and device exposure on the health of children and young people.
More than half of 132 doctors surveyed reported encountering at least one case of health harm potentially related to tech and devices every week, with over a third observing such evidence multiple times a week. The reported harms ranged from physical injuries to mental health impacts, including trauma from exposure to violence online.
Britain is currently consulting on measures to restrict children's access to social media. These measures may include a possible ban for under-16s, curfews, app time limits, and curbs on addictive design features. Australia last year became the first country to enforce a ban on social media for children under 16, with several European countries contemplating similar regulations.
