Doctors warn of ‘horrific’ impact of tech and devices on children and young people’s health

Doctors and medical experts have warned that growing evidence shows technology and digital devices are causing significant harm to children and young people in the UK.

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC), which represents 23 medical royal colleges and faculties, said frontline clinicians across the NHS have provided personal testimony about “horrific cases” they have treated in primary, secondary and community care settings.

The academy said it plans to gather and assess evidence to identify recurring health issues that healthcare professionals believe may be linked to excessive screen time and exposure to harmful online content.

It aims to highlight what it described as the often hidden risks of unrestricted access to digital content and prolonged screen use, and to provide guidance to doctors on how to identify and manage related harm.

In a letter sent to Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, the AoMRC said it already has evidence showing negative impacts on both the physical and mental health of children and young people.

The work is expected to be completed within three months. Copies of the letter were also sent to the chief executive of the National Institute for Health Research, Lucy Chappell, and the UK’s chief medical adviser, Sir Chris Whitty.

Dr Jeanette Dickson, chair of the academy, told The Sunday Times there were early signs of a growing public health crisis.

“Without doubt, we are seeing the beginning of a public health emergency with our own eyes,” she said. “Everywhere we look, children and adults are glued to their screens. I worry deeply for children who are effectively imprisoned in a digital bubble.”

The warning follows recent government research linking excessive screen time to poor speech development in children under five.

It also comes as the government prepares to announce plans to restrict social media use among under-16s, with a public consultation expected this week. Options under consideration range from a full ban to more limited measures, including time restrictions and tighter controls on platform algorithms.

Australia introduced a ban on social media accounts for under-16s in December, and several other countries, including France, Denmark, Norway and Malaysia, are considering similar measures.

However, some child protection and online safety organisations have cautioned against a blanket ban. In a joint statement signed by 43 charities, safety groups, academics and bereaved families, including the NSPCC and the Molly Rose Foundation, campaigners warned that an outright ban could have unintended consequences and potentially put children at greater risk.

They said blanket bans are a “blunt response” that fail to address long-standing failures by tech companies and governments to regulate online platforms effectively.

Andy Burrows, chief executive of the Molly Rose Foundation, told Sky News there is a false choice being presented between a total ban and the current situation.

“Those are not the only options,” he said. “We can strengthen enforcement, impose fines and criminal sanctions, and force tech companies to take responsibility. But that requires leadership.”

He urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to listen to growing concerns from parents and experts and take decisive action.

NSPCC chief executive Chris Sherwood also warned that for many children, the internet provides essential support and community.

“A blanket ban risks removing those spaces overnight and driving teenagers into darker, unregulated parts of the internet,” he said, while calling for tougher action against technology companies over harmful design choices and unsafe algorithms.