The Royal College of GPs (RCGP) has issued a stark warning, stating that the digital harms caused by artificial intelligence and social media are now so widespread they must be recognised as a public health issue. The professional body for family doctors says GPs are increasingly treating children affected by damaging online content linked to self-harm, pornography, and violence.
A Call for Systemic Responsibility
In a major intervention, the RCGP has published its first-ever position statement on the problem, highlighting the detrimental impact of the internet on young people's health, development, and wellbeing. The statement, shared exclusively with the Daily Mail, calls on the government, technology firms, and regulators to take responsibility.
It argues for new guidance for parents and specific training for GPs to help them deal with the growing crisis. The RCGP firmly states that digital harms should be understood as a population health issue, not merely a matter of individual choice or parental responsibility.
"Children are developing within digital systems designed to maximise engagement rather than wellbeing, and the burden of harm falls disproportionately on vulnerable groups, widening existing health inequalities," the college said.
The Pervasive Impact on Health
The position statement details how GPs observe the cumulative effects of digital harms in daily practice. These impacts range from mental health issues and sleep disturbances to problems with neurodevelopment, behaviour, social relationships, and family functioning.
"GPs increasingly encounter digital exposure as a contributory factor in anxiety, low mood, self-harm, disordered eating, sleep disturbance, attention difficulties, safeguarding concerns and school avoidance," the statement reads.
Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, chair of the RCGP, emphasised that adults are also at risk, particularly from health misinformation and unreliable AI chatbots that misdiagnose conditions. "These systems can produce confident, polished answers that sound medically authoritative, but often aren't," she warned. "They have no clinical judgement... This can lead to missed diagnoses, unsafe self-treatment, unnecessary anxiety, or dangerous delays in seeking help."
Political Pressure and Tragic Consequences
The RCGP's warning adds to mounting political pressure for stricter controls. It follows Australia's move to ban under-16s from having social media accounts, with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch urging Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to take similar firm action in the UK.
The government is expected to announce a consultation on potential measures this week, and the Lords will vote on a cross-party amendment to the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill calling for an Australia-style ban.
The scale of the damage was underscored at a recent meeting of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, attended by over 20 senior medics, which was described as 'extraordinarily moving'. Doctors declared a 'public health emergency' over the effects of screen time and harmful content.
In one harrowing account, an A&E doctor described treating a teenage girl who was bleeding profusely after her boyfriend used sharp knives during foreplay—a practice they had seen online. The girl later died from her injuries, tragically illustrating the extreme real-world consequences of harmful digital exposure.
The RCGP concludes that addressing digital harms is essential to safeguarding children, supporting families, and ensuring the health system remains preventative and fit for the future.
