Top doctors are warning that children’s use of mobile phones has reached the level of a “public health emergency,” with screen time and harmful online content posing serious risks to their wellbeing.
The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has written to government ministers after a meeting highlighted the extent of damage seen in NHS facilities due to mobile phone use, The Times reports. More than 20 senior clinicians attended the October meeting, sharing real-life cases they had encountered.
Chair of the academy, Dr Jeanette Dickson, said: “Without doubt, we are witnessing the start of a public health emergency. Children and adults are glued to screens everywhere. I worry for children, some of whom seem trapped in a digital bubble.” She added that some stories shared during the meeting were “genuinely shocking” and left participants “close to tears.”
Dr Zara Haider, president of the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, said colleagues are increasingly concerned about reports of young women being pressured to imitate dangerous sexual acts seen online. She added that extreme behaviors, such as strangulation during sexual activity, are being normalized, sometimes causing serious injury or death. One case described a teenage girl who died after a boyfriend imitated a risky act seen online.
A police psychiatrist attending the meeting noted that about half of 13- to 14-year-olds have watched beheading videos on their phones. Other clinicians reported eye strain, increasing rates of children needing glasses, and higher risks for children with ADHD.
The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges is now reviewing research to better identify the issues harming children, with results expected within three months.
The warnings come as the UK government considers restricting social media use for children under 16. Health Secretary Wes Streeting has expressed concern that social media is harming young people’s “life chances” and is calling for action. Sir Keir Starmer has not ruled out introducing an Australia-style ban on under-16s, while Tory Leader Kemi Badenoch has vowed to block access for under-16s if the Conservatives win the next election.
The House of Lords is expected to vote on a Tory amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and School Bill next week, which could prevent under-16s from accessing social media, potentially leading to a Commons showdown.
While the government is reviewing the evidence, some charities, including the NSPCC and the Molly Rose Foundation, have warned that a blanket ban could be a “blunt approach” and risk pushing children to unregulated platforms. A government spokesman emphasized that, through the Online Safety Act, social media companies are already required to provide age-appropriate protection and that all options remain under review to protect children while allowing safe digital engagement.
