Social media is addictive, Kate warns

THE Duchess of Cambridge warned children against the addictiveness of social media yesterday.

Kate, 36, was at Reach Academy in Feltham, west London, to learn about how it works with the children’s mental health charity Place2Be, of which she is patron.

Chatting to a group of youngsters, she asked: ‘Do you feel that social media puts a lot of pressure on young people? From what we’ve been learning from the work we’ve been doing it can get so addictive.

‘It becomes part of your lifestyle, doesn’t it? It’s hard to break away from that, but having the support and learning, the good ways of using social media, because it’s great in so many contexts, but it’s also being able to sort of monitor your own use of it as well, which is great.’

Ed Vainker, headmaster of the academy, which opened in 2012 in an area of high child poverty, told her that pupils had to switch their phones off in school.

Kate, who is more than five months pregnant, showed off her growing bump in a £65 floral maternity dress by Seraphine, which she wore twice when she was expecting Princess Charlotte.

The duchess spoke out as the Children’s Commissioner warned parents against using the social media app Snapchat.

Anne Longfield said it encouraged children to stay logged in, adding: ‘Unless you’re very sure, don’t let your kids on Snapchat. It’s Snapchat that has particularly addictive elements.’