The UK is facing a “national crisis” of phone addiction, according to leading therapists, as new data reveals that average daily screen time has reached an all-time high. Dr. Eleanor Marsh, a clinical psychologist specialising in digital dependency, told the Guardian that the surge in usage is fuelling a mental health emergency, particularly among young people.
“We are seeing levels of anxiety, depression, and social isolation that are directly correlated with excessive phone use. This is not a phase. It is a public health emergency,” she said.
The warning comes as Ofcom reports that adults now spend over four hours a day on their smartphones, a 20% increase since 2020. For teenagers, the figure is closer to six hours. Marsh argues that the design of apps, with their infinite scroll and algorithmic feeds, is deliberately addictive, exploiting psychological vulnerabilities.
She calls for government intervention similar to tobacco regulation, including mandatory warning labels and usage limits. “The tech industry has engineered a system that profits from our attention. We need to reclaim our digital sovereignty,” she added.
Critics, however, question the rush to label the issue a crisis, pointing to the benefits of connectivity and the lack of causal evidence for severe harm. Yet the debate over screens and mental health intensifies, with some schools already banning smartphones and parliament considering new legislation. For Marsh, the record numbers are a wake-up call that society must address the human cost of our digital habits before the next generation pays the price.
