Beauty influencers may be “just as toxic as Andrew Tate”, a leading psychiatrist has warned during a Scottish Parliament debate on smartphone use.
Professor Mathew Sadlier, consultant psychiatrist at Dublin’s Mater Hospital, spoke at the Festival of Politics event Smartphone Free Childhood?, chaired by Conservative MSP Douglas Ross. The discussion explored smartphones’ impact on young people’s health, with Sadlier calling for “societal change” in attitudes to their use.
Sadlier revealed he is witnessing a surge in severe eating disorders among young patients, with social media fuelling harmful behaviours. He said social platforms often intensify vulnerabilities, pointing to body image pressures, steroid use among boys, and ecosystems of self-harm content.
He compared beauty influencers’ impact to controversial online figure Andrew Tate, saying they are “toxic to a different population”. Sadlier warned that beauty tutorials often draw viewers into endless harmful content, questioning whether “one video” ever remains just one.
The debate comes as the Online Safety Act, introduced this year, gives tech companies tougher obligations to remove illegal material and block harmful content from children. Platforms must also provide simple reporting tools for parents and young users.
Sadlier stressed change is possible, drawing parallels with seatbelt and cigarette legislation. He argued younger generations should not automatically inherit today’s smartphone habits, urging a shift in culture.
“Adolescence is temporary,” he told MSPs, “but online harm can leave lasting effects if we fail to act decisively.”
