UK medical leaders have warned that social media poses growing risks to children, comparing the issue to historic public health campaigns involvingsmokingand seatbelt laws. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges made the comments in a report submitted to the government's consultation on child online safety, which closes this week.
The academy, which represents 22 royal medical colleges across the UK, said children were being exposed to 'hateful,addictiveand grossly distressing content' through social media platforms. The intervention has increased pressure on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to consider stricter restrictions on social media access for under-16s.
The debate comes as ministers continue reviewing possible measures linked to child online safety, including potential social media age restrictions, app curfews and limits on features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling. Downing Street is expected to respond in the coming weeks following more than 70,000 submissions from campaigners, organisations and members of the public.
In its report, theAcademy of Medical Royal Collegessaid social media use should now be treated as a major public health issue because of the scale of harm being reported by frontline clinicians. The organisation said the issue 'ranks alongside smoking and wearing seatbelts in cars as a unifying force for the medical profession'.
According tosurvey findings, half of the 454 doctors questioned said they treated children at least once a week for mental distress or physical harm linked to online content. Another GP described a ten-year-old patient who had reportedly become heavily exposed to violent online material and disturbing imagery through social media use.
The report included accounts from doctors describing children allegedly joining online suicide pacts, viewing self-harm material and attempting dangerous online challenges after exposure to graphic videos and violent imagery.
The academy called for doctors to routinely screen children for harm linked to online activity during medical assessments and urged ministers to strengthen protections for younger users online.
Listening to the voices that matter most 📣At@HammersmithAcad,@leicesterlizheard directly from students about growing up online — and what they think about a possible social media ban.pic.twitter.com/cIJiZa9qO0
Academy of Medical Royal Colleges response to@SciTechgovuk‘Growing up in an online world’ consultation recommends medical professionals routinely screen patients for social media & content harms@AoMRChttps://t.co/18gCha0gKs#OnlineSafety#SocialMediaBan#SocialMediapic.twitter.com/38hjqqWqr7
The report has added to growing political pressure on Starmer over whether the government should introduce an Australia-style ban preventing under-16s from accessing social media platforms. The prime minister previously expressed caution about introducing a full ban but has since said he remains 'open-minded' about stronger restrictions.
Source: International Business Times UK
