The UK's leading medical body has issued a stark warning, declaring the harmful effects of technology and devices on children and young people a growing 'public health emergency'.
A Gathering Crisis in Clinics Nationwide
The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC), representing 23 medical royal colleges and faculties, is spearheading a new initiative to confront the issue. It states that frontline NHS clinicians across primary, secondary, and community care are reporting 'horrific cases' linked to technology use.
The academy plans to formally gather evidence over the next three months to document the recurring problems healthcare professionals are witnessing. Their goal is to highlight the hidden dangers of unrestricted screen time and online content, and to provide doctors with guidance on how to identify and manage the resulting harm.
Physical and Mental Health at Stake
Dr Jeanette Dickson, chair of the AoMRC, left little room for doubt about the scale of the problem. "Without doubt, we are seeing the beginning of a public health emergency with our own eyes," she told The Sunday Times. "Everywhere we look, we see children and adults glued to their screens. I really worry for children, some of whom are self-evidently imprisoned in a digital bubble."
The academy confirms it already possesses evidence of damage to both the physical and mental health of young people, stemming from excessive device use and exposure to harmful material online.
Government Action and Expert Dissent
The warning comes as the UK government prepares to announce plans to potentially restrict social media access for under-16s, with a consultation expected imminently. Options under consideration range from a full ban to measures like time limits and stricter controls on platform algorithms.
This move follows actions in other nations; Australia introduced a ban for under-16s in December, with countries like France, Denmark, and Norway considering similar steps. Recent UK government research has also connected screen time to poor speech development in children under five.
However, a coalition of 43 child protection charities, online safety groups, and bereaved families, including the NSPCC and the Molly Rose Foundation, has cautioned against a blanket ban. In a joint statement, they warned of serious unintended consequences, arguing it is a "blunt response" that fails to hold tech companies properly accountable.
Andy Burrows, chief executive of the Molly Rose Foundation, told Sky News that the Online Safety Act had been "watered down" and was not being enforced robustly enough. He called for stronger fines and criminal sanctions for tech firms instead. Chris Sherwood of the NSPCC added that a ban could deprive teenagers of vital online support networks and drive them towards unregulated parts of the internet.
The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has formally written to Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, copying in the government's chief medical adviser, Sir Chris Whitty, urging a coordinated and evidence-based response to this escalating crisis.
