Social networks are as dangerous for young people as tobacco, say British doctors

In its report, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, an organization that brings together the main British medical professional institutions, considers that the use of social networks constitutes a public health problem “on the same level as smoking and wearing a seat belt in a car.”

Among the 454 doctors surveyed, half reported treating at least one child per week who suffers mental distress or physical injuries related to online content.

Doctors also claim to see a “wave of radicalized children” due to their exposure to “hateful, addictive and extremely disturbing” content.

The warning from British doctors comes on the last day of a consultation launched in January by the Labor government on the possibility of banning social media for those under 16 in the United Kingdom, following the Australian model.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer is due to meet on Tuesday with parents who believe social media played a role in the death of their children.

Among them are supporters of a ban on social networks for minorslike Esther Ghey, mother of a transgender teenager murdered by two teenagers in 2023.

But there are also opponents of the ban, such as Ian Russell, whose daughter took her own life at the age of 14 after watching content that promoted suicide.

Wes Streeting, who left his position as Health Minister this month, and is a possible rival of Keir Starmer in the leadership of the Labor Party and in Downing Street, was in favor of banning social networks for minors.

“I think what we have seen from the big technology companies is similar to the behavior of the tobacco industry,” he told the BBC.

In mid-April, Starmer hinted that he could restrict minors’ access to social networks due to the risks to their safety.although he insisted that he would wait until the end of the consultation before making a final decision.

The British Prime Minister also did not rule out a social media ban for minors.

The Minister of Technology, Liz Kendall, indicated that the government will act before “the end of the year” to implement the result of the consultation.