Arabic version: الأطباء في المملكة المتحدة يدعون إلى اتخاذ إجراءات ضد وقت الشاشة للأطفال

According to BBC News,

The UK’s most senior doctors say there is an “overwhelming consensus” that time spent on screens and social media harms children. In response to a government consultation about social media use for under-16s, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges said doctors should routinely ask younger patients about their screen time and social media use. Academy Chair Jeanette Dickson emphasized the need for action similar to past public health campaigns on smoking or seatbelt use.

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall has said new measures for under-16s will be brought in by the end of 2026. This comes as the government’s consultation on the matter closes on Tuesday night, having garnered 70,000 submissions from charities, campaign groups, and members of the public. Options under consideration include banning social media for children, as has happened in Australia, and implementing measures such as app curfews and stronger age checks.

Kendall indicated that the government is learning lessons from Australia’s social media ban. She noted that the consultation aims to explore a broad range of issues affecting children and that a comprehensive response will be published in the summer. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges has compared the risks associated with screen time to those of smoking, asserting that the harm is no longer hypothetical but a documented reality.

The discussion surrounding screen time has prompted various opinions, with some advocating for an outright ban on social media for children, while others argue that existing laws should be enforced more effectively. Campaigners, including bereaved families, are pushing for stricter age limits on social media access, emphasizing the need for companies to ensure the safety of their products before allowing access to minors. Meanwhile, tech companies like Meta have suggested that age verification should be handled on a device level to prevent underage users from accessing certain applications.