Social Media as Harmful as Cigarettes, UK Considers Ban for Children
Shocking report from the UK’s Academy of Medical Royal Colleges states that social media now poses threats to young people’s health equivalent to cigarettes. The warning came as the government closed its consultation on ‘Growing Up In The Online World’ on Tuesday (26 May), exploring drastic measures including a ban on social media for minors.
Doctors in the report warned of a surge in children being radicalised by hateful, addictive, and distressing online content. A survey of 454 doctors revealed half treat at least one child weekly for mental health issues or physical injuries directly linked to online content.
Former UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting, in his first public statement since leaving cabinet, accused Big Tech of using tactics similar to Big Tobacco to evade regulation. ‘Social media is highly addictive and harmful to our health. We must restore childhoods. A ban under 16 should be a start, not an end,’ he stated, adding it’s time for government to take back control from tech tycoons.
Families affected by online platform harms are meeting Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, urging strict restrictions. Ellen Roome, whose 14-year-old son Jools Sweeney died attempting an online challenge, called social media a ‘defective product’ needing restrictions until proven safe.
Although the government plans age or functionality restrictions this summer, pressure from the House of Lords is mounting to pass legislation before year-end.
Meanwhile, a coalition of child organisations led by 5Rights Foundation, including NSPCC and Girlguiding, warned that focusing solely on age limits risks missing the root cause, demanding a complete overhaul of tech companies’ business models.
Leanda Barrington-Leach, Executive Director of 5Rights Foundation, said the core issue is systems prioritising engagement and profit over child welfare. The coalition urged action.
A government spokesperson confirmed over 70,000 participants in the consultation, stating the government is committed to balancing child online safety via the Online Safety Act, requiring platforms to give users greater control over content.