Baroness Dr. Hilary Cass, a leading critic of transgender treatments for children, has warned that allowing minors unrestricted smartphone use constitutes a “deliberate social experiment” with serious consequences. Speaking in her maiden speech to the House of Lords, Cass linked excessive screen time to rising rates of anxiety, depression, and insomnia in children, particularly those already struggling with mental health challenges or bullying.
“Children are not like adults, only smaller. They are in a dynamic state of physical, personal, and emotional development,” Cass stated, calling for stricter measures to protect children from harmful content and excessive screen exposure. Citing Australia’s decision to ban social media for under-16s starting next year, she urged the UK to consider similar restrictions.
Dr. Cass rose to prominence after her landmark review into transgender treatments for children, which highlighted significant flaws in the rationale for gender-affirming care. Her 400-page report found that puberty blockers and related interventions offered little evidence of improving mental or psychosocial health and posed unknown risks to long-term development. She also noted that many medical professionals were afraid to challenge these practices due to the toxic nature of the gender debate.
Following her report, Cass faced significant backlash, including security concerns that forced her to stop using public transport. “If you have a topic that you can’t discuss, that’s really risky for the patients and for clinical study,” she said in a recent interview.
Cass’s warnings about screen time echo concerns voiced by UK Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle, who said in September that the government is closely examining Australia’s social media ban. Under Australia’s new law, platforms like TikTok and Instagram will face heavy fines for allowing minors to access their services.
The British government has not yet introduced similar legislation but continues to evaluate measures to address the growing mental health crisis among young people.
