New “smoking”: British doctors equate social networks to a deadly habit for children

Viewing a feed on TikTok or Instagram can be as destructive to a child’s body as smoking a cigarette, xrust reported. This statement was made by the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC), uniting leading doctors in the UK. Doctors are demanding that digital addiction be recognized as a new “epidemic”, comparing it in terms of the scale of the threat to tobacco smoking.

In an official report submitted to the government, experts note that the problem of “the unbridled impact of technology” has reached its peak. More than half of the doctors surveyed (51%) reported that they see trauma or mental health problems in children caused by online content on a weekly basis. We are talking about imitating dangerous videos, experiencing sexual harm, and developing anxiety and depression.

“This ranks alongside smoking and seat belts as a unifying factor for the medical community,” AoMRC officials said. Former British Health Minister Wes Streeting has already compared the tactics of IT giants to the tricks of tobacco magnates of the past, accusing them of creating “digital needles” for children.

The government has announced that new restrictions for minors will be introduced before the end of 2026. Among the measures are a complete ban on social networks for children under 16 years of age (as in Australia), a “curfew” for applications and blocking of an endless feed that accelerates addiction. Hundreds of British families are already testing these restrictions.

While technology is recognized as a weapon of mass destruction for the psyche, Russian parents should also think about dosing screen time. Research confirms that an excess of virtual life deprives children of live communication and normal sleep, creating a generation of digital introverts.

Based on news from Reuters, BBC and open sources.

Xrust New “smoke”: British doctors equated social networks with a deadly habit for children