The UK medical community is intensifying pressure on the government to impose a full ban on social media use for children under 16, as concerns mount that online platforms are inflicting serious harm on the mental health of children and adolescents. Regulatory momentum is also spreading across Europe.
According to British daily The Times on Tuesday, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges recently submitted a report during a government consultation recommending a ban on social media use for those under 16, warning that "children are being repeatedly exposed to highly addictive and violent content."
The academy compared the current situation to the period when the dangers of smoking first emerged as a public health crisis, saying the medical community has effectively reached a consensus that "a public health response is needed."
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who had previously opposed an outright ban, has recently softened his stance, saying he would "review the issue with an open mind." Senior figures within the Labour Party have also called for tougher regulation, fueling a broader debate across British politics over the harms of social media.
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The cases disclosed by British doctors are shocking. The report includes numerous examples of children displaying self-harming and violent tendencies after consuming social media content. Some children suffered serious injuries while imitating extreme content seen online, while others threatened family members after repeated exposure to videos showing methods of drug overdose or graphic violence.
In one case, a 10-year-old boy who became excessively obsessed with social media and violent content killed a pet and engaged in self-harming behavior. Another doctor described a child who developed bedsores after spending extended periods lying in bed due to social media addiction.
In a survey of 454 doctors with the UK's National Health Service (NHS), half of the respondents said they "treat children suffering mental or physical harm related to online content at least once a week." The medical community is calling for routine checks on social media use and online exposure to become a standard part of clinical consultations.
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Stringent regulation is already underway abroad. Australia last year became the first country in the world to introduce a law restricting users under 16 from creating and using social media accounts, with full enforcement beginning this year. Targeted platforms include Meta's Facebook and Instagram, TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, Twitch and Google's YouTube.
Australia's online safety regulator, eSafety, said millions of underage accounts have been deleted or restricted in the first few months of enforcement. Brazil and Indonesia are pursuing similar measures, while in Europe, countries including France, Denmark, Austria and Greece are reviewing legislation to raise minimum age requirements.
British children's advocacy groups argue that age restrictions alone are not enough. There are growing calls to ban targeted advertising and addiction-inducing algorithms, and to restrict minors' access to generative AI chatbots and certain gaming systems.
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