Doctors warn of 'horrific' impact of tech and devices on children and young people's health

Doctors and medical experts have warned of the growing evidence of "health harms" from tech and devices on children and young people in the UK.

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC) said frontline clinicians have given personal testimony about "horrific cases they have treated in primary, secondary and community settings throughout the NHS and across most medical specialities".

The body, which represents 23 medical royal colleges and faculties, plans to gather evidence to establish the issues healthcare professionals and specialists are seeing repeatedly that may be attributed to tech and devices.

It intends to highlight the sometimes-hidden risks of unrestricted content and screen time to children and young people and provide guidance to the medical profession about how to identify and manage the harm being done.

The academy said it already had "evidence of the impact on children and young people's physical and mental health both from excessive screen time as well as exposure to harmful online content".

It says the work is due to be completed within three months.

The letter was sent to Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall.

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Source: Sky News, 18 January 2026