MPs launch enquiry into 'extreme internet' use by UK young people

Parliament's science and technology committee is launching an enquiry into the impact of social media on children’s mental and physical health after a study found the UK has the world's second highest proportion of 15 year olds who are ‘extreme internet users’, which mean they use the internet over 6 hours a day out of school.

The Education Policy Institute report found 37.3% of young people are extreme internet users and found that approximately 95% of children use social media before or after going to school.

Due to the dramatic increase in the usage of screen devices in young people confirmed by this research, the Commons' science and technology committee will open an investigation on the impact that social media is having on children.

The Children’s Commissioner has found that children aged 8-12 find it hard to deal with the impact of social media.

Although there Committee acknowledged that there are some positive aspects of social media like emotional support, shared experiences, self expression and making new relationships, the investigation will look to take the many potential negatives into account, such as bullying, body perception, violent or sexual content online and emotional anxiety and depression.

The enquiry will also examine the physical effect that smartphones could have on children and their cognitive capacity, with an NCBI study having found that more than 1 in 10 children develop high blood pressure from excessive screen time.

Norman Lamb MP, Chair of the Science and Technology Committee, said: “Social media and smartphones are increasingly being used by children and young people. It is vital that we understand the impact this is having on them — the benefits as well as the risks.

“We want to determine the scale of the issues — separating out the understandable concerns from the hard evidence, and to identify what practical measures people are already taking to boost the benefits and blunt the potential harms. We want to hear from schools and young people, as well as from the industry and government.”