# ‘Social media should be treated like tobacco’: health experts say the internet is just as bad as smoking for under-16s as UK government edges closer to introducing ban

> A medical report compares the threats of social media to smoking Medical professionals are being encouraged to ask young patients about their screen time The UK government is weighing a blanket ban on social media use…

- **Source:** [TechRadar](https://www.techradar.com/computing/social-media/social-media-should-be-treated-like-tobacco-health-experts-say-the-internet-is-just-as-bad-as-smoking-for-under-16s-as-uk-government-edges-closer-to-introducing-ban?utm_source=gearopen.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=6a15e7b52d1cef78a2055971)
- **Published:** 2026-05-26
- **Category:** Computers & IT
- **Tags:** #media #social #government #smoking #health #medical #under #closer
- **Canonical:** http://localhost:4321/a/6a15e7b52d1cef78a2055971

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