He said: “Schools are getting real about mental health. This is a big national concern. There are high levels of anxiety among young people who feel pressured to be beautiful and this is only amplified through social media.
“The conversations go on after school through technology and even intelligent pupils put themselves in comprising positions within their peer group. Home used to be safe but now it is invaded electronically.”
Julie Lynn Evans, a child and adolescent psychotherapist, and author of the book What About the Children, said that the widespread use of smart phones was exacerbating problems for vulnerable teenagers.
“Children have no time to think about and process what is happening, they are always on to the next thing. They need time to learn how to manage their emotions, both good and bad” she said.
“Photos on social media encourage them to think that the grass is always greener for other people. They are comparing their life with images that lack reality.”