News & Media
Here we will share the latest media activity and other news about the Health Professionals for Safer Screens
In the Press
HPFSS contributes to major AoMRC report on online harms and children
Social media is the new smoking, medical leaders say Children are being continuously exposed to ‘hateful, addictive and grossly distressing content’, warns a study by the medical profession’s biggest voice A report by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges warns of an epidemic of harm to children “continuously exposed to hateful, addictive and grossly distressing…
Download ArticleUnder 16’s face social media restrictions after government climbdown
Dr Becky Foljambe, a GP who is the founder of Health Professionals for Safer Screens, commented: “Health professionals across the country will be relieved and reassured this morning that the government has finally committed to introducing age restrictions to 16 on harmful social media platforms first and foremost, in addition to other possible measures such…
Download ArticleSmartphone ‘Ban’ in Schools: Progress but still not a clear solution
A new policy shift reported in The Times sees the Government move to make mobile phone restrictions in schools statutory. While this marks an important step forward, Dr Becky Foljambe, warns that without explicitly removing the current “out of sight” approach, the changes risk falling short of meaningful impact.
Download ArticleChild trauma experts back social media ban for under-16s
Dr Becky Foljambe, NHS GP and founder of health professionals for safer screens, said: “Something policymakers must take urgent note of is the almost unanimous agreement from clinicians that our most vulnerable children are the worst impacted by these platforms."
Download ArticleDr Becky Foljambe gave evidence in Parliament alongside Frank Young, CEO of Parentkind Parentkind, who shared research reflecting the views of parents across the UK.
Clinicians are reporting growing concerns about the impact of excessive screen use and exposure to violent or disturbing content on children’s mental health, behaviour, sleep and development.
Download ArticleDr Becky Foljambe, gave evidence to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology Committee as part of Parliament’s inquiry into whether social media should be banned for under-16s.
Drawing on her clinical experience and work with families, Dr Foljambe spoke about the harms health professionals are increasingly seeing linked to children’s exposure to social media and harmful online content.
Download ArticleDr Becky Foljambe on Sky News
The Government has today announced new powers to strengthen child online safety including action on AI chatbots and confirmation that Jools’ Law will finally be enacted. This is a deeply significant moment. But this cannot be where the story ends. As Dr Becky Foljambe, founder of Health Professionals for Safer Screens, told Sky News: “The…
Download ArticleDoctors declare effects of child phone use a public health emergency
The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, representing 23 medical royal colleges, has written to ministers after hearing first-hand testimony from clinicians across the NHS. At a recent Academy of Medical Royal Colleges roundtable, doctors from A&E, paediatrics, psychiatry, general practice, sexual health and optometry shared first-hand accounts of the cases arriving in clinics and emergency…
Download ArticleArabella Skinner shares her thoughts on screen use in Hello magazine
Raising awareness about the urgent need for clear guidance on screens from pregnancy onwards, when families are most open to support and prevention has the greatest impact.
Download ArticleWarn parents about screen time during pregnancy, midwives told
Health professionals continue to raise the alarm: early years screen exposure has become a public health emergency. Across clinics, nurseries and schools, we are seeing a sharp rise in children struggling with speech, language, attention, physical development and emotional regulation patterns that consistently link back to excessive or unstructured screen use in the earliest years…
Download ArticleWatch Now
The Government has now committed to raising the age to 16 for harmful social media features.
Together, we did it. After sustained pressure from the Raise the Age campaign and repeated votes in the House of Lords, the Government has now committed to raising the age to 16 for harmful social media features. Alongside this, smartphones are now out of schools with guidance placed on a statutory footing, giving it the…
RAISE THE AGE WIN – a significant and hard-won moment
After sustained pressure from the Raise the Age campaign and repeated votes in the House of Lords, the Government has now committed to raising the age to 16 for harmful social media features. Alongside this, smartphones are now out of schools with guidance placed on a statutory footing, giving it the full force of law.
‘Either you stand with children or big tech’. Bereaved UK parents travel to Washington
As health professionals, we are increasingly witnessing the impact of digital environments on children’s health and wellbeing. The evidence is building, the experiences are being shared, and the consequences are becoming harder to ignore. Please take a moment to write to your MP, it takes seconds and the link is in our bio. Whatever political…
Bereaved UK parents travelled to the US, where Big Tech is on trial.
We heard sickening whistleblower evidence exposing what the platforms know, and what they are failing to do about it. Meanwhile in the UK the government drags its feet. Children continue to be exposed every day to grooming, exploitation and other online harms. According to Meta’s own documents, 500,000 children face these harms every day on…
Arabella Skinner, Policy Directory at HPFSS on GB News
Arabella Skinner discusses phone bans in schools and social media harms to children under 16.
Social Media Platforms Are Driving Behavioural Addiction in Children
There is actually very little robust evidence of benefits.” Giving evidence to the Science and Technology Committee in Parliament, Dr Becky Foljambe from HPFSS set out what clinicians across the country are now seeing. “We are so close to this reaching criteria as a diagnosis of behavioural addiction.” This is not about “screen time.” This…
Dr Rebecca Foljambe presents evidence to Parliament on social media harms
Dr Rebecca Foljambe, founder of HPFSS, gave evidence to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology as part of Parliament’s inquiry into whether social media should be banned for under-16’s. Drawing on clinical experience & the growing body of evidence from doctors, teachers, police, safeguarding professionals and families, Dr Foljambe spoke about the harms increasingly…
Dr Sanjiv Nichani “I am terrified for the future of our children”
At The Prosperity Institute debate on social media, Dr Sanjiv Nichani spoke powerfully on behalf of Health Professionals for Safer Screens, setting out the scale of concern among clinicians about the impact of smartphones and social media on children and young people.
HPFSS member Dr Lauren Bull discusses smartphones, social media and online pornography
HPFSS member Dr Lauren Bull explores how smartphones, pornography and hypersexualised online culture are reshaping young people’s understanding of sex, intimacy and human connection.
Uplifting Voices
Amid heavy evidence, it is important to remember what we are protecting. This month, HPFSS member Dr Sanjiv Nichani shared children reflecting on life without smartphones in school. When the environment changes, childhood changes.
