The utilization of social media platforms represents as significant a threat to the health of young people as smoking, according to medical professionals from the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges in the United Kingdom, British public broadcaster BBC reported today.
In response to a formal government request for consultation on social media usage by minors under the age of 16, the medical institution advocated that healthcare workers must routinely question young patients about their daily screen time and digital platform consumption during standard medical appointments.
Speaking to the BBC, child psychiatrist Emily Sehmer asserted that the hidden dangers of excessive social media usage are actually worse than smoking, emphasizing the critical importance of medical professionals approaching young people about their online habits without judgment.
Sehmer noted that the true scale of this public health crisis cannot be properly assessed unless doctors proactively ask, a sentiment echoed by various international health advocates monitoring the rise of youth anxiety and sleep deprivation.
Read more about this topic: EU to propose raising minimum age for social media use (with video)
The British government has been conducting a comprehensive public consultation since March regarding potential legislative restrictions on social media use for minors under 16 before deciding on specific statutory measures. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges insists that clear clinical guidelines must be established for doctors to help them detect inappropriate or harmful interactions with online content.
UK Science, Innovation, and Technology Minister Liz Kendall confirmed that these new protective measures will be implemented before the end of the year.
This regulatory momentum mirrors similar legislative crackdowns across Europe and the globe, including in Portugal, where parliament recently approved a proposal requiring parental consent for minors between 13 and 16 to access social media platforms.
Furthermore, Portuguese schools have restricted smartphones for students up to the sixth grade since September 2025. Similar age-verification laws have been enacted in France, following the footsteps of Australia, which implemented a total social media ban for minors under 16.
