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As health professionals, we see first-hand the impacts of children’s addictive screen use and access to harmful content online. Join us in our call to instigate real and urgent change.
Raise the Age Limit for Social Media
Social media has become deeply ingrained in the daily lives of young people. For many early adolescents, scrolling, messaging, and posting are now core parts of their lives, yet 78% of Gen Z (13 years to 28 years old) say that if they were a parent, they would try to delay their child using social media as long as possible.
There is a growing body of research that warns that the risks are both real and widespread. Higher social media usage is linked to a range of mental health symptoms including depression, anxiety, ADHD, OCD as well as sleep, eating disorders.
There are also links to substance use, violence and crime.This is why, in 2026, HPFSS will be supporting the amendments to the Children and Wellbeing Bill in the House of Lords to protect children by raising the age of access to social media.
The key issues
As clinicians, we witness these harmful effects daily in our clinics, and academics are now establishing causal connections. Smartphones, screens and social media usage impact every part of our children’s lives from their early cognitive development through to their physical development – obesity, eyesight, eating disorders to their social development, mental health and academic attainment.
This is a disaster for our children and for our society. Find out more below:
52% of the young people that spend most of their free time on their smartphone, wish they could spend less time on their phone
2 million children with speech and language challenges in the UK – an increase of 27% in the past 2 years
Nearly half (47%) of parents say they have had a disagreement with their child over screen time in the last few weeks
OUR LATEST RESOURCES
all resourcesScreens, newborns and pre schoolers – advice from a consultant neonatologist
Dr Kelly Brown, consultant neonatologist, shares insight and advice on child development and screens. Trans
Screen media use and children’s developmental outcomes with Dr Megan Gath
Dr Megan Gath shares the latest research for Early Years and Screens with Health Professionals for Safer Screens.
Family Plan, Leaflets - Health, Screen time tipsDigital Detox Guide
The latest resource aims to help families understand how to reduce screentime and restore connected family and social moments. We have created a guide that supports parents in making these changes through safe, manageable steps that can be adapted to each household’s needs.
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