Screen use risk to kids’ wellbeing

FAMILIES should ban phones at bedtime and keep them away from the dinner table, the UK’s first official advice on social media and screen use says.

Guidance from the chief medical officers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland also warns parents that they should never assume a child is happy to have their photo published online.

Chief medical officer for England Dame Sally Davies said: “Time spent online can be of great benefit to children and young people.

“But we need to take a precautionary approach and our advice will support children to reap these benefits and protect them from harm.”

Duty

Their report said the technology industry should have a duty of care and a voluntary code of conduct. “It is imperative that the technology industry proactively acts in the interests of users, as well as shareholders,” it said.

University College London has found a link between youngsters who engage in screen-based activities more often and over longer periods and mental health problems.

But it is not possible to say whether screen time can cause issues.

Shirley Cramer of the Royal Society of Public Health said: “Barely a day passes without yet more concerning findings regarding the potential harms around screen use or social media.

“This advice is therefore a step in the right direction towards the establishment of much needed clearer guidance which parents are crying out for to protect their children and help them navigate the Wild West of the digital world.”