Medical experts should make suggestions to the government for children and young people
Britain's Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Matt Hancock , has ordered medical experts to develop the first official guidelines on the maximum amount of time young people should spend on social networks. Against the background of growing concern about the negative consequences of excessive use and the resulting psychological problems in children, the politician is now calling for countermeasures.
Set rules for children
“As a father, I am very concerned about the growing evidence of the impact of social media on children's mental health. Unrestricted use risks being very harmful to mental health. That's why I asked the Chief Medical Officer to establish formal guidelines for children's social media use. These could empower parents and teachers to enforce reasonable boundaries and explain them to children,”
Hancock told the Observer.
A study by The Children's Commissioner has already shown that children become significantly more restless as a result of the constant consumption of social media offerings ( pressetext reported ). Hancock is also calling on Chief Medical Officer Sally Claire Davies to set minimum age guidelines. According to Hancock, many large social media companies give advice about young users, but ultimately do nothing to enforce it.
“Limiting the damage”
“Facebook and Instagram's terms of service state that you shouldn't be a user if you're under 13 - but the platforms do nothing to monitor this. The guidelines for WhatsApp state that you should not use the app under the age of 16 - but again no one lifts a finger,"
Hancock warns. He also suggests that turning off your smartphone at night is an “absolutely standard, direct way to limit harm” in children.
Preview image: Alexander Supertramp / Shutterstock
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