Social media as bad for young people as smoking, top doctors say
Top UK doctors say social media should be treated like smoking as a health risk for young people, while the government weighs tighter under-16 rules.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
The UK's senior doctors are pushing ministers to treat social media as a serious health threat for children, alongside options like curfews, stronger age checks and possible bans. The government says it will act by the end of the year after its consultation closes, but campaigners remain split.
Some doctors think social apps can hurt young people so much that they should be treated like smoking. They say adults should ask children more often about how much time they spend online.
The government is thinking about rules like making apps stop at night, checking ages more carefully, or even blocking some under-16s from using them. It is also asking about AI chatbots, which are computer programs that talk like people.
People do not all agree. Some want strong limits right away, like putting a lock on a dangerous door. Others think a total ban would be hard to enforce and might not work well.
Analysis
What the doctors want
The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges says social media use should be treated as a major health concern for young people, similar in seriousness to smoking. In its submission to the government consultation on social media use for under-16s, it argues that doctors should routinely ask about screen time and social media when seeing younger patients.
What the government is considering
Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said new measures for under-16s will come by the end of the year. The consultation, which closes at the end of Tuesday, has gathered 70,000 submissions. Ideas under discussion include night-time curfews, stronger age checks, and turning off features such as auto-play and infinite scroll. A full ban is also being considered, following Australia's example.
Why the debate is split
Supporters of tighter rules say platforms need stronger limits because of the harm some online content can cause, including extreme violence. Bereaved families and campaigners want a faster and tougher response. Others argue bans could fail in practice or be the wrong approach, pointing to concerns about enforcement and access. The government is also looking at children's access to AI chatbots as part of the wider review, so the discussion goes beyond social media alone.
Key points
- Senior UK doctors say social media poses a health risk for young people comparable to smoking.
- The government consultation is weighing curfews, stronger age checks and possible bans for under-16s.
- Ministers say they will respond in the summer and act by the end of the year.
- Campaigners are split between tougher restrictions and concerns that bans may not work.
- The review also asks about children's access to AI chatbots and online safety features.
