Britain's “screendemic” is “poisoning our children” and fuelling a mental health crisis, a consultant paediatrician has warned. Dr Sanjiv Nichani, who spearheaded the foundation of Leicester Children’s Hospital, declared there is “absolutely no question” smartphone and social media use is a “real and present threat to children’s mental health”.

His warning comes amid concern the Government is reluctant to take bold action to protect children and young people from screen-based danger. Dr Nichani pointed to an “epidemic of mental health illness in children and young people” and “early developmental problems”.

Describing the impact of what he calls the “screendemic”, he said: “What I’m seeing at the coal face, I’m horrified and I’m terrified by what it’s doing to our children and our future generations. In fact, as far as I’m concerned, in my personal opinion, it’s poisoning our children.”

He pressed for action, saying: “Screens and social media in the last 15 years have completely upended civilisation and we really, really need to take stock. The irony is the Government doesn’t want to be seen to be telling people what to do.”

Dr Nichani described present legislation to address these issues which is before Parliament as “impotent”.

He told the Centre for Social Justice he saw toddlers on a daily basis at his clinic who “don’t say a word”.

“They have this glazed appearance on their face,” he said. “They are drawn to inanimate objects.

“When you delve into what’s happening on a day to day basis at home, you are told that many of these children [spend] the majority of their time in front of a screen.”

He said he also sees teenagers who have developed symptoms similar to Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder as a result of “excessive screen time and social media app use”. Many of these young people suffer from depression, anxiety and poor self-esteem.

Conservative MP Kit Malthouse compared time spent on social media on smartphones to “smoking for the brain”.

The Centre for Social Justice is calling for the Government to increase the age of digital consent – the point at which someone can agree for their personal data to be processed – from 13 to 16; ban algorithms aimed at users under 16; and make it a statutory requirement for schools to be smartphone-free.

A private member’s bill introduced by Labour MP Josh MacAlister will – if it becomes law – require the Chief Medical Officers of the United Kingdom to publish advice for parents and carers on the use of smartphones and social media by children; the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology would also be compelled to commission research and give a statement on the “appropriateness and effectiveness of the digital age of consent”.

Mr Malthouse argued this would not provide the protection young people need today.

He said: “For the sake of appearance it is being allowed to proceed but actually it is a hollow man; there is nothing there really that is of any worth or that will make any difference.”

A Government spokesperson said: “We are committed to keeping young people safe online. Laws under the Online Safety Act targeting illegal material are now in force, and by summer platforms have to take steps to ensure children have age-appropriate experiences online.

“We have already commissioned a study of current research on the impact of social media and screen time on children’s well-being. This evidence base will help inform next steps.

“The Act is the foundation, not the limit, and we won’t hesitate to go further when it comes to children’s safety online.”