Don’t let your children take their mobiles to bed

PARENTS have been told to ban children from taking phones to bed after a study linked social media use to problems with sleep and mental health.

The British-led research claimed that teenagers who frequently used social media were around 40 per cent more likely to experience mental health problems.

It said children who regularly log-in to social media get less sleep, less exercise and risk exposing themselves to harmful content or bullying.

The researchers said that although social media use in itself was not directly harmful, these knock-on effects led to ‘psychological distress’.

As a result, they urged parents to consider banning their children from taking phones to bed and restricting social media use for an hour before sleep, as well as monitoring who they talk to online.

The study, by University College London’s Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, was based on data from 10,000 children aged 13 to 16.

Researchers followed the children over three years and recorded their use of all popular social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp and Snapchat.

Last night, Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan said she was ‘deeply concerned’ by the findings and called on social media giants to do more to protect children.

Ministers are planning to make websites legally responsible for their users’ safety. But campaigners warned that greater regulation was not the answer, and urged parents to take a greater role.

Victoria Hewson, of the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: ‘Children being exposed to unsuitable content online is concerning, but nationalising parenthood with disproportionate regulations that will infringe all of our rights is not the way to combat it.’

The study, published in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health journal, found that a lack of sleep, online bullying and reduced exercise explained almost all of increased mental health issues in girls who frequently used social media. The factors were much less significant for boys.

Russell Viner, lead author of the study and president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: ‘It’s not that the screens themselves that are toxic,’ he said. ‘Instead worry about what they’re watching and the content. Make sure they get enough sleep and physical activity.’

A report by Ofcom showed seven out of ten children aged 12 to 15 are allowed to take their phones to bed, and a fifth of children aged eight to 12 have signed up to social media. Social media firms were approached for comment.

A YOUNG British policewoman takes unpaid leave and appears on the Nigerian version of Big Brother – despite having been specifically ordered not to take part by her superiors.

Khafi Kareem is shown wearing her Met uniform in pre-publicity material and on screen repeatedly cavorts between the sheets with a man she barely knows.

Yet when criticised for her antics and told she has brought the force into disrepute, she dons the mantle of victimhood.

A statement issued on her behalf claims the criticisms typify ‘a repressive culture of shaming women for their sexual decisions and life choices’.

Oh, and she can’t come back to work just yet, because the show has another two months to run. Welcome to the cock-eyed world of sex and diversity politics in the 21st century.

A NEW study shows children who constantly use social media are far more prone to sleep deprivation and take less exercise. Ultimate responsibility rests not with the internet giants who run these sites, but with parents. Only they can truly police what their children look at – and for how long. However, to set the right example, many will first have to unglue themselves from their own phones and tablets.