Child phone use has become a public health emergency as doctors warn of damage to body and mind
Top doctors have warned that mobile phone use among children has become a 'public health emergency', with screen time and exposure to harmful online content having dangerous effects on their wellbeing. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has written to ministers after a meeting revealed the level of damage witnessed in NHS facilities caused by mobile phones, The Times reports. The meeting, held in October and attended by more than 20 senior medics, saw clinicians give their own testimony about the cases they had seen. Chair of the academy, Dr Jeanette Dickson, said: 'Without doubt, we are seeing the beginning of a public health emergency with our own eyes. Everywhere we look, we see children and adults glued to their screens. 'I really worry for children, some of whom are self-evidently imprisoned in a digital bubble.' Dr Dickson added that some of the stories she had heard at the meeting were 'genuinely shocking,' and said they had left people 'close to tears.' President of the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, Dr Zara Haider, said her colleagues were becoming increasingly concerned by the stories they were hearing every day. 'Many involve young women being forced to act out dangerous sexual behaviour because their partner had seen something online,' she said. Top doctors have warned that the use of mobile phones among children has become a 'public health emergency'. Stock image shows a child using a mobile phone
In This Article:
- Inside the October meeting where doctors warned of a creeping crisis and shared patient stories
- Beheading videos, strangulation and other dangerous online content spilling into real life harm
- Policy response and government moves toward restricting social media for minors
- Next steps and timeline for action
Inside the October meeting where doctors warned of a creeping crisis and shared patient stories
The meeting, held in October and attended by more than 20 senior medics, saw clinicians give their own testimony about the cases they had seen. Chair of the academy, Dr Jeanette Dickson, said: 'Without doubt, we are seeing the beginning of a public health emergency with our own eyes. Everywhere we look, we see children and adults glued to their screens. I really worry for children, some of whom are self-evidently imprisoned in a digital bubble.' She added that some of the stories she had heard at the meeting were 'genuinely shocking,' leaving people 'close to tears.' Dr Zara Haider, President of the College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, said her colleagues were becoming increasingly concerned by the stories they were hearing every day. 'Many involve young women being forced to act out dangerous sexual behaviour because their partner had seen something online,' she said.
Beheading videos, strangulation and other dangerous online content spilling into real life harm
'We know, for example, that strangulation is now a common feature because it is thought to heighten sensation. It can, of course, lead to brain injury and death in some cases, because it takes less than a minute to kill someone by compressing the trachea, yet incredibly, we are normalising this behaviour', she said. One doctor described treating a teenage girl with serious injuries after her boyfriend used sharp knives during foreplay, an act they had seen online. The teen later died. Those who attended the meeting also included a police psychiatrist who said that half of teens between the ages of 13 and 14 had watched beheading videos on their phones. Meanwhile, Dr Rebecca Foljambe, a GP, reported seeing multiple cases of harm to children from online content. Optometrist Daniel Hardiman also warned that more children were needing glasses at younger ages due to excessive screen time, while Professor Michael Absoud, a paediatrician, said children with ADHD are particularly at risk.
Policy response and government moves toward restricting social media for minors
The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has called for a review of its research on the issue to help doctors identify the issues harming children. The review is expected to be completed within three months. The letter from the academy comes as the government prepares to announce plans to restrict the use of social media to minors under the age of 16. Health Secretary Wes Streeting is calling for 'action' on children using social media over concerns that it is harming the 'life chances of young people'. Sir Keir Starmer said he has not ruled out introducing an Australia-style ban on young people using social media. It comes despite the Prime Minister previously opposing such a ban - and follows Tory Leader Kemi Badenoch vowing that the Conservatives would block under-16s from social media if they win the next election. Pressure is mounting on the Government to follow Australia, which became the first country to ban social media for children last month, with MPs privately pushing for Labour to follow suit. Wes Streeting is calling for 'action' on children using social media over concerns that it is harming the 'life chances of young people'. The Health Secretary warned the technology has been 'unleashed without properly understanding the consequences' and when asked if he backed the ban for under-16s, Mr Streeting told Sky News: 'I'm certainly in favour of action in this area.' It is expected to come to a head next week as the House of Lords is due to vote on a Tory amendment to the children's wellbeing and school bill that would prevent under-16s from accessing social media. If it passes, a Commons showdown would follow. Labour MPs have been urged not to rebel and back the amendment, which is fuelling speculation that the Government might move first. 'The Prime Minister added: 'So, across the board, we will take further action to protect children.' It is understood that 'discussions are taking place' in the Government about a ban, but there are concerns among some that the Australian ban has not been as straightforward as anticipated. Officials also point to opposition to a blanket ban by the NSPCC and suicide prevention charity the Molly Rose Foundation, which have said that banning social media for under 16s is 'not the answer'. The NSPCC has warned that a ban 'would be a blunt approach to a complex problem' while Molly Rose expressed concerns about the 'unintended consequences of bans', arguing that they risk 'pushing harm to unregulated areas rather than making products safe by design for children'. Andy Burrows, chief executive of the foundation, said: 'Government should respond to overwhelming calls from parents for decisive action by fixing regulation with evidence-based solutions, not simplistic and populist calls for social media bans that would risk causing more harm than good.' However, a source said the Government is not 'running away' from a fight with big tech, pointing to this week's confrontation with X over Grok AI, which Downing Street is claiming as a 'vindication'. A Government spokesman said: 'Through the Online Safety Act, we have taken some of the boldest steps anywhere in the world to ensure children have age-appropriate experiences online, mandating that social media companies protect children from harmful content. 'A social media ban is not our current policy but we keep all options under review based on the evidence. We are striking the right balance: protecting children from harm while ensuring they can benefit safely from the digital world.'
Next steps and timeline for action
The review is expected to be completed within three months. It is understood that 'discussions are taking place' in the Government about a ban, but there are concerns among some that the Australian ban has not been as straightforward as anticipated. The House of Lords is due to vote next week on a Tory amendment to the children's wellbeing and school bill that would prevent under-16s from accessing social media. If it passes, a Commons showdown would follow. Labour MPs have been urged not to rebel and back the amendment, which is fuelling speculation that the Government might move first. 'We need to better protect children from social media. We're looking at what's happening in Australia, but all options are on the table in relation to what further protections we can put in place, whether that's under-16s on social media, all options on the table. Or an issue I'm very concerned about, which is under-fives and screen time. And we're the first government to take action in relation to that, because children are turning up at school aged four, to reception, having spent far too much time on screen,' Sir Keir Starmer said. The Prime Minister added: 'So, across the board, we will take further action to protect children.' It is understood that 'discussions are taking place' in the Government about a ban, but there are concerns among some that the Australian ban has not been as straightforward as anticipated. Officials also point to opposition to a blanket ban by the NSPCC and suicide prevention charity the Molly Rose Foundation, which have said that banning social media for under 16s is 'not the answer'. The NSPCC has warned that a ban 'would be a blunt approach to a complex problem' while Molly Rose expressed concerns about the 'unintended consequences of bans', arguing that they risk 'pushing harm to unregulated areas rather than making products safe by design for children'. Andy Burrows, chief executive of the foundation, said: 'Government should respond to overwhelming calls from parents for decisive action by fixing regulation with evidence-based solutions, not simplistic and populist calls for social media bans that would risk causing more harm than good.' However, a source said the Government is not 'running away' from a fight with big tech, pointing to this week's confrontation with X over Grok AI, which Downing Street is claiming as a 'vindication'.
