UK Doctors Cite ‘Overwhelming Consensus’ That Screen Time and Social Media Harm Children, Urge Government Action on Under-16s by 2026

The United Kingdom’s most senior doctors have stated there is an “overwhelming consensus” that time spent on screens and on social media is harmful to children, according to a submission to a government consultation on social media use for under-16s. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, responding to the consultation closing Tuesday night, recommended that physicians routinely ask younger patients about their screen time and social media usage.

Medical Profession Unites on Screen Time Risks

The academy, representing the UK’s medical royal colleges, compared the issue to historical public health campaigns on smoking and seatbelts, calling it a “unifying force for the medical profession.” Chair Jeanette Dickson acknowledged that causal evidence linking device usage to health harms remains scant, but said the consensus among members is that a link exists. “We need to call this out,” she added. The academy’s submission urges doctors to incorporate questions about digital device usage into routine pediatric consultations.

Government Plans for Under-16s by End of 2026

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall confirmed that new measures for under-16s will be introduced by the end of 2026, with a formal response to the consultation expected in summer. Options under consideration include banning social media for children, as implemented in Australia, as well as app curfews and stronger age checks. Since March, the government has been soliciting feedback from parents and children on measures such as disabling auto-play and infinite scroll, restricting access to artificial intelligence chatbots, and strengthening enforcement of age verification. The consultation has received 70,000 submissions from charities, campaign groups, and the public.

Kendall told the BBC: “The question isn’t whether we’re going to act – we will.” She said the government is learning from Australia’s social media ban and is examining a broad range of platform features affecting children, including those on services like Roblox and Discord that are not covered by Australian restrictions. “We’ve got to get this right, and we’ve got to make it last,” she added.

Context

The UK’s consideration of a social media ban mirrors Australia’s 2024 legislation prohibiting children under 16 from using social media platforms, which has drawn both support and criticism from campaign groups. Unlike Australia’s approach, the UK government is exploring restrictions on a wider set of digital features and platforms not covered by Australian law.