Social media should have cigarette packet-style health warnings, Lib Dems to say
Calls for ‘doomscrolling cap’ to protect children from social media
- The Liberal Democrats propose mandatory cigarette-style health warnings on social media apps for under-18s to protect children from harm.
- The party also advocates for a 'doomscrolling cap' to prevent endless content feeds and a 'doomscroll ban' or time limits on addictive apps for children.
- Victoria Collins, the Lib Dem science and technology spokesperson, will present these plans, citing documented risks of excessive app use for young people, including mental health issues and sleep disruption.
- Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has previously called for Ofcom to investigate Elon Musk's X platform over child abuse and self-harm content.
- Polling commissioned by the Lib Dems found that 80 per cent of parents of school-aged children reported negative behaviours in young people due to excessive phone usage.