The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, which represents 23 royal medical colleges and universities in the United Kingdom and Ireland, has warned that the risks posed by social media to children are comparable to those of smoking.
The academy said that social media should be viewed on a similar level of concern as smoking and the use of seatbelts in cars, highlighting the need for stronger protective measures for children online.
The warning was included in a submission to the UK government as part of ongoing consultations on child online safety, as policymakers consider tighter restrictions on children’s access to social media platforms. Proposed measures include a possible ban for users under the age of 16, time-based restrictions on usage, limits on screen time, and regulations targeting “addictive design features” in apps.
The academy stated that “few issues have united doctors so strongly in recent years,” particularly regarding the impact of unrestricted exposure to technology and devices on the health of children and adolescents.
According to the organisation, more than half of the 132 doctors surveyed reported seeing at least one case of technology-related harm in children every week, while over a third observed such cases multiple times per week.
Reported harms ranged from physical injuries—such as those resulting from imitating dangerous online challenges—to mental health impacts, including trauma caused by exposure to violent content online.
