Thirteen global health experts have published a three-paper series in The Lancet calling for coordinated international action to address risks posed by digital technologies to children and young people worldwide.

The series defines problematic digital media use as addiction-like behavior patterns rather than total time online. An umbrella review covering nine million people under the age of 25 across 121 studies found consistent links between problematic digital media use and mental health difficulties, disrupted sleep, and reduced physical activity. Some benefits were noted, including higher well-being from moderate use and positive effects from active video gaming. However, the authors emphasize that the evidence is of low certainty and does not prove cause and effect.

The research identifies features such as infinite scroll and autoplay as deliberate design choices by technology companies rather than issues of individual self-control. These companies are accused of treating public health as an afterthought while building business models focused on capturing user attention and collecting data.

The series estimates that more than two hours of daily screen time could be associated with approximately 2.8 million healthy years of life lost to depression and 240,000 to obesity each year globally. These figures are described as illustrative rather than precise measurements.

Recommendations include requiring technology firms to assess new products for potential harm before release, sharing data with independent researchers, establishing a global governance treaty through the World Health Organization to set minimum safety standards, and creating a dedicated international body to monitor artificial intelligence risks to young people. Legal action is mentioned as one possible route to hold companies accountable, though the series stresses that litigation alone cannot replace regulation.

A Youth Advisory Group of six young adults contributed input on lived experiences not captured in the research. Dr. Salman Fitrat Khan from India stated that health risks from digital systems are preventable and that better governance can allow young people to benefit from online opportunities without harm.

The findings follow a major study published in JAMA Pediatrics analyzing data from over 2.8 million children across 64 countries, which found that increased screen time for gaming, social media, and video streaming can lead to reduced academic performance, language development delays, and higher rates of socioemotional and mental health issues.

Australia has already imposed regulations limiting social media access to people 16 years of age and over, and dozens of other countries, including Canada, are considering similar measures. Canada's proposed policies, Bill C-34, the Safe Social Media Act and Bill C-36, the Protecting Privacy and Consumer Data Act, would create a Digital Safety Commission to oversee tech companies and restrict young people under the age of 16 from using social media platforms.

Dr. Michael Cheng, a psychiatrist at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario and the CHEO Research Institute, says he frequently sees the addictive nature and mental health harms of social media. He notes that while concerns about digital media's impact on health have existed for years, the world is becoming increasingly concerned about the same issue.

The series argues that current digital platforms are designed primarily to capture attention and collect data through features like infinite scroll and autoplay, rather than to protect health. Technology companies are accused of using strategies similar to those employed by tobacco and fossil fuel industries to delay regulation.

Original Sources/Tags: independent.co.uk, independent.co.uk, medicalxpress.com, globalnews.ca, news-medical.net, irishexaminer.com, hindustantimes.com, etvbharat.com, (lancet), (world), (health), (organization), (global), (impact), (excessive), (digital), (media), (young), (mental), (sleep), (research), (nine), (million), (age), (consumption), (risks), (exercise), (autoplay), (design), (technology), (companies), (business), (models), (user), (attention), (data), (study), (screen), (time), (healthy), (depression), (obesity), (researchers), (figures), (harm), (measurements), (recommendations), (firms), (products), (release), (independent), (panel), (artificial), (intelligence), (children), (governance), (treaty), (baseline), (standards), (regulation), (findings), (major), (countries), (gaming), (social), (video), (streaming), (academic), (performance), (language), (development), (delays), (rates), (issues)

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There is no practical advice. The article does not give steps or tips that an ordinary reader can follow. Even the suggestion that Iran may be involved is not explained as something readers can apply. The guidance is vague and not realistic for most people.

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The emotional effect is negative. The article creates fear and shock by describing a terror plot and a death, but it gives no way for the reader to respond. It leaves a person feeling helpless rather than calm or constructive.

The language leans toward sensationalism. Words like reportedly, suspected, and reportedly repeat without adding substance. The tone pushes drama over clarity and overpromises on danger without proof.

The article misses chances to teach or guide. It presents a problem but does not provide steps, examples, or context. A reader could compare independent accounts from official sources, look for patterns in how security incidents are reported, and follow general safety practices like staying aware in public spaces and reporting suspicious activity. These are basic reasoning methods that do not require special data.

Even though the article offers no real help, a reader can still apply universal principles. When hearing about security threats, focus on what is confirmed rather than what is suspected. Look for official sources that explain how incidents are investigated and what protection looks like. In daily life, basic habits like staying alert in crowded places, keeping emergency contacts handy, and knowing how to report concerns reduce risk from many threats. For rare events, prepare by knowing how to find trusted local information and by keeping a small supply of essentials so that disruption does not become a crisis. The key is to act on facts you can verify and to avoid letting fear push you toward choices that are not grounded in evidence.

The text says technology companies built features like infinite scroll and autoplay as deliberate design choices. It calls these choices deliberate, which makes the companies look like they planned to hurt people. This helps the reader think the companies are bad on purpose. The word deliberate hides that these features also keep users interested and make money for the companies.

The text says these companies treat public health as an afterthought. The word afterthought makes it sound like the companies do not care about people getting sick. This helps the reader feel angry at the companies. It hides that the companies may also want users to stay healthy so they can keep using the products.

The text says researchers emphasize that the figures are illustrative of potential harm rather than precise measurements. The word illustrative makes the big numbers sound like guesses. This helps the reader think the harm is real even if the numbers are not exact. It hides that the numbers could be wrong or very small.

The text says more than two hours of daily screen time may be associated globally with approximately 2.8 million healthy years of life lost to depression. The word may be associated makes the link sound sure. This helps the reader believe screen time causes depression. It hides that the study only shows a link, not that screens cause the problem.

The text says recommendations include requiring technology firms to evaluate new products and features for potential harm before release. The word requiring makes it sound like the firms must obey. This helps the reader think the firms are the bad guys who need to be forced. It hides that the firms may already test some products.

The text says a global governance treaty under the World Health Organization is also proposed. The word proposed makes it sound like a good plan. This helps the reader trust the World Health Organization. It hides that the treaty could give the group more power over what people do.

The text says the findings follow a major study published in JAMA Pediatrics. The word major makes the study sound very important. This helps the reader trust the findings. It hides that the study may have limits or other views.

The text says increased screen time for gaming, social media, and video streaming can lead to reduced academic performance. The word can lead to makes it sound like screens cause the problem. This helps the reader blame the screens. It hides that other things, like home life, may also affect school work.

The text says the research identifies features such as infinite scroll and autoplay as deliberate design choices by technology companies rather than issues of individual self-control. The word rather than makes it sound like the companies are fully to blame. This helps the reader not blame the users. It hides that users also choose to keep scrolling.

The text says the study estimates that more than two hours of daily screen time may be associated globally with approximately 240000 lost to obesity each year. The word estimates makes the number sound like a fact. This helps the reader think the harm is real. It hides that the number is just a guess.

The text carries several emotions that shape how the reader feels about the problem of too much screen time for young people. Worry is a strong feeling that appears in words like "problematic digital media consumption" and "greater risks of mental health difficulties." This worry helps the reader feel that the situation is serious and needs attention. Sadness shows up when the text talks about "healthy years of life lost to depression" and "lost to obesity." These sad feelings make the reader understand that real harm is happening to people's lives. Anger appears in phrases like "deliberate design choices" and "treating public health as an afterthought." These words make the reader feel upset with technology companies for putting profits before people's health. Fear is present in the mention of "capturing user attention" and "collecting data," which makes the reader feel concerned about how companies control what people do online. Determination comes through in the recommendations, such as "requiring technology firms to evaluate new products" and "establishing an international panel." These words show that people are ready to take action and fix the problem. Hope appears in the idea of a "global governance treaty" and "baseline standards," which makes the reader feel that change is possible if everyone works together.

These emotions help guide the reader's reaction in clear ways. Worry and fear are used to make the reader feel that the problem is real and urgent, so they pay closer attention to the message. Sadness about lost years of life makes the reader feel empathy for those affected and motivates them to care about the issue. Anger toward technology companies helps the reader place blame and feel that these companies should be held responsible. Determination in the recommendations encourages the reader to believe that solutions exist and that action can be taken. Hope about global cooperation makes the reader feel optimistic that the problem can be solved if people work together.

The writer uses emotion to persuade by choosing words that sound stronger instead of staying neutral. Instead of saying "there might be some effects," the text says "greater risks" and "healthy years of life lost," which makes the harm sound bigger and more certain. The word "deliberate" is used to describe design choices, making it sound like companies planned to cause harm on purpose, which increases anger. Repeating ideas like "mental health difficulties, disrupted sleep, and reduced exercise" makes the message louder and harder to forget. The writer also uses comparison by putting big numbers like "2.8 million healthy years of life lost" next to smaller ones like "240,000 lost to obesity," which makes the harm feel even more massive. Phrases like "illustrative of potential harm rather than precise measurements" are used to soften the numbers, but the large figures still make the reader feel that the problem is huge. These choices make the message feel real and important, so the reader is more likely to agree that something needs to be done.