JOIN OUR CALL for action TO THE UK Chief medical officers for an urgent briefing

Dear United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers,

We are writing regarding your February 2019 commentary on “Screen-Based Activities and Young People’s Mental Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing: A Systematic Map of Reviews.” For the reasons outlined below, we believe this document is outdated and requires an urgent review.

We recognise that the impact of screen-based activities on mental health is complex, and untangling the various influencing factors can be challenging. However, there is now substantial evidence supporting the concerns of many health professionals that excessive screen time and social media use are contributing to mental health issues in children. This excessive use affects children in multiple ways, leading to problems with sleep, eyesight, speech and language development, emotional and social growth, eating habits, body image, educational achievement, and cognitive performance. Furthermore, research indicates that one in four children and young people are using their smartphones in a manner consistent with behavioural addiction. As clinicians, we witness these harmful effects daily, and academics are now establishing causal connections.

ADHD significantly increases the risk of mental health issues in children, and the growing evidence linking excessive device use to ADHD symptoms is alarming.  We are witnessing a marked rise in ADHD diagnoses, with more families seeking assessments for their children – something the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is working to address. It is becoming increasingly evident that preventative measures are crucial. We need to focus on how we communicate and advise parents about this specific risk rather than just providing financial support after the fact.

As if the existing harms weren’t concerning enough, we know that cases of self-generated Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) continue to increase and children involved are getting  younger – including children aged 7-10 in 2023, up 65% from 2022 (104,282 in 2023 vs 63,057 in 2022). Additionally, as a likely consequence of greater immersion in radicalised online content, one in five individuals arrested for terrorism offences is now under the age of 18.  It’s crucial to highlight that the most vulnerable children are at the most significant risk from these life-altering harms. This theme recurs when considering all the issues above, as children in deprived settings are the most likely to use screens for extended periods without adult supervision.

We, the undersigned, call on you to:

• Urgently revise the February 2019 CMO commentary to include updated evidence linking device use to mental health issues, as well as evidence regarding the broader harms to children.
• Focus the CMO’s positioning on child health by highlighting the serious challenges technology companies pose. The current approach seems too sympathetic to potential benefits and lacks urgency regarding the harms children face today. Requesting a “voluntary code of conduct” from the tech industry on safeguarding children is too lenient and not adequately centred on child health or safety.
• We note your call for the technology industry to fund independent research over the next decade. We believe this creates a conflict, as the health and medical science fields should solely fund such research. We also call on you to demand that researchers in this area disclose any income from technology companies.
• We urge you to reconsider your support of the age restriction requiring children 13 and older to consent to data sharing and social media access; we believe the minimum age should be 16. The Chief Medical Officer should also support legislative changes around child-safe phones, as recommended in the Education Select Committee’s recent report.
• Launch a public health campaign addressing screen time and social media use, with clear messaging directed at parents. An example already in use within NHS settings is attached.
• Call upon all Royal Colleges, including the RCPCH, to inform their members about the key issues and evidenced risks of harm.

All signatories of this letter are united in their support for the evidence presented herein and the urgent calls to action it outlines.

 CLICK HERE TO READ THE LETTER WITH REFERENCES