Issues with children far deeper than social media'

A SOCIAL media ban for under-16s will not fix Britain’s mental health crisis because screens are not the real cause of children’s distress, an expert warned.

- BY LUCY JOHNSTON Social Affairs Editor

Dr Gabor Maté would support the UK following Australia’s lead in imposing a ban because social media is causing “terrible harm” to children’s brains. But he added it was naive to think this would be a silver bullet for rising mental health issues.

Instead, the child development expert believes the explosion in child anxiety, self-harm, depression and eating disorders is rooted in increasing social stress, a lack of secure early bonds and, in many cases, trauma. He warned ministers a social media ban for children would only tackle the symptom rather than the cause of Britain’s growing youth mental health crisis.

Anecdotal evidence from classrooms reveals pupils are struggling more than ever to concentrate, regulate emotions and engage socially without the mediation of screens.

And it comes as research suggested excessive screen use can damage attention spans, sleep patterns and emotional development.