A new report by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has likened social media's threat to young people's health to that of smoking, prompting renewed calls for stricter regulation. The report, submitted to the government's consultation on an Australia-style social media ban for minors, surveyed 454 doctors and found that half had treated at least one child per week whose mental distress or physical injury was directly linked to online content.
Former health secretary Wes Streeting has backed the comparison, stating that social media should be treated like tobacco. Mumsnet, which launched its 'Rage Against the Screen' campaign two years ago using cigarette-style health warnings, said the report validates what parents have long reported: that social media feels addictive, changes children's behaviour, and disrupts family life.
Mumsnet polling reveals that 95% of its users are concerned about social media's effect on children's mental health, 61% say their child is addicted to their phone or social media, and 49% say it negatively affects self-esteem, rising to 57% among girls. Parents described children who cannot put phones down, rage or panic when denied access, and sneak around at night for confiscated devices.
The report highlights that social media platforms are deliberately designed to exploit attention through infinite scroll, autoplay, algorithmic feeds, streaks, likes, notifications, and personalised recommendations. This commercial logic, akin to cigarette companies engineering dependency, maximises use while denying responsibility.
Mumsnet chief executive Justine Roberts criticised the government's slow response, noting that tech companies are powerful and politicians fear accusations of nanny-statism. She urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to act, saying that platforms must make their products safe for children.
