A Labour grandee and former Nato boss has accused Keir Starmer of leaving the UK “in peril” due to a lack of spending on defence.

Lord George Robertson, who served as defence secretary in Tony Blair’s cabinet, said Britain is “underprepared … underinsured [and] … not safe” on the prime minister’s watch.

His comments are significant because he carried out a Strategic Defence Review on behalf of the PM.

But in a speech to be delivered on Tuesday, the Labour peer will hit out at the lack of progress being made by the government on implementing his recommendations.

He will say: “We are underprepared. We are underinsured. We are under attack. We are not safe . . . Britain’s national security and safety is in peril.”

Lord Robertson will add: “There is a corrosive complacency today in Britain’s political leadership. Lip service is paid to the risks, the threats, the bright red signals of danger – but even a promised national conversation about defence can’t be started.”

The peer, who was Nato secretary general between 1999 and 2003, will also warn that “we cannot defend Britain with an ever-expanding welfare budget”.

And we will take aim at “non-military experts in the Treasury” who he accuses of “vandalism” for not providing enough funding for defence.

Lord Robertson’s comments come amid global tensions over the wars in Iran and Ukraine, and the mounting threat to the UK from Russian aggression.

A government spokesperson said: “We are delivering on the Strategic Defence Review to meet the threats we face.

“It is backed by the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, with a total of over £270 billion being invested across this parliament.

“We are finalising our Defence Investment Plan that we will publish as soon as possible, rebuilding British industry to make defence an engine for growth and doubling down on our own commitment to Nato.”

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A British cardinal who helped to elect Pope Leo XIV has hit out at Donald Trump for depicting himself as Jesus Christ.

The US president posted an AI-generated image of himself on his Truth Social account which appeared to show him healing a sick man by laying his hand upon him.

He has since deleted the image following an furious backlash, and bizarrely claimed he had thought it showed him as a doctor.

Confusingly, vice-president JD Vance has since insisted Trump’s post was just a “joke”.

The row came after the president launched an outspoken attack on the Pope, who he accused of being “weak on crime”.

On the BBC’s Newsnight programme on Monday, Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe, who was part of the conclave which elected Pope Leo last year, said the image Trump posted was “frankly bizarre”.

He said: “People have said they think it is blasphemous. I think that implies an attack on Christianity, which President Trump I don’t think intended.

“But it does show a complete misunderstanding of what Christianity is about.

“That anybody could think that they have the right to claim to be Jesus now in that way, to take his place, is quite frankly absurd.”

Asked whether he believed Trump’s claim that he thought the image was depicting him as a doctor healing people, Cardinal Radcliffe said: “I find it very strange. I’ve met many doctors in my life and none of them have glowed quite like that.”

The cardinal also rejected Trump’s claim that Pope Leo was only chosen because he is American and could therefore deal more easily with him.

He said: “It’s an extraordinary statement. The cardinals voted for Pope Leo because they saw in him a good, gentle man who will really seek peace and justice. The fact that he was an American was not important.”

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Penis size is not a matter of choice, but for many people with penises, size matters.

Usually, it matters more to the person with the penis than to their partner. People with smaller penises often live with the anxiety that they don’t measure up. This worry, known as small penis anxiety, is a very real thing.

Dr. Mindy DeSeta, a certified sexologist and sexuality educator for the Hily dating app, said there’s a strong cultural message that “size matters,” not just for sexual pleasure, but for masculinity, too. “Penis size is often treated like a shortcut — the bigger the penis, the more pleasure someone can supposedly give,” she said.

“Men who are believed to be ‘well-endowed’ are often labeled as more masculine or sexier,” DeSeta continued. “When someone internalises these messages, self-esteem can take a hit. They may start assuming they won’t be able to satisfy a partner, and that fear can lead them to avoid sex, dating, or relationships altogether.”

Porn and media are big drivers of these beliefs. “Over time, men who worry their penis is small can start seeing themselves as ‘less than’ or at a sexual disadvantage. That mindset fuels daily anxiety, self-doubt, and relationship stress. Many feel pressure to overcompensate, and sex starts to feel like a pass/fail test instead of a pleasurable and connected experience.”

The first thing Sarah Sumner, a sex and relationship therapist, tells her clients who come in with concerns about penis size is: “There is nothing wrong with your body. Fixating on penis size is a body image issue, and it works the same way any body image issue does: it distorts how you experience yourself during sex.”

The most common concern Sumner sees is men defining their sense of self based on how “good” or “bad” they think they are at sex. “Their sexual identity is based on compensating: Some avoid sex, some rush through it, some become hyper-focused on their partner’s orgasm as proof they’re good enough. The through line is that they’re not able to be present during sex, and their partners can tell. Sex starts to feel like a performance.”

From self-doubt to sexual performance anxiety, the concerns that bring people into a therapist’s office reveal just how much small penis anxiety can affect self-esteem and relationships.

In therapy, concerns about penis size rarely come out right away. Most men start by talking about anxiety, shame or relationship stress, but their size could be what’s underneath it all.

“Usually, people with smaller penises don’t walk into therapy saying, ‘I have a small penis,’” DeSeta said. “They first start talking about anxiety, avoiding sex, shame or relationship stress. Their penis size is what is sitting underneath it all. It is the foundational pain point that projects all their fears, emotions and avoidance.”

According to DeSeta, people who perceive their penis as small most often fear that they will not be able to please or give their partner an orgasm: “They fear their date will reject them the moment they take their clothes off. This humiliation and fear of rejection can be enough for people with small penises to ward off sex, and even relationships, altogether.”

Another stressor for people with small penises, said DeSeta, is “if” or “when” to bring it up to a partner.

“Some people feel that they should ‘warn’ their partner ahead of time, but they worry that bringing it up will turn it into a bigger issue than it needs to be, and possibly lead to rejection before anything has a chance to happen,” she explained. “Others prefer to say nothing and let the moment unfold naturally, but then they’re stuck in their head, waiting for their partner’s reaction instead of enjoying the experience.”

According to Sumner, porn has created “this insane baseline where men are measuring themselves against a visual selected specifically because it’s unusual. Locker room culture, “big dick energy,” size as shorthand for power … gets internalised before most men have had a single sexual experience.”

Underneath the size thing, she said, is usually a much older wound about being enough. “Man enough, desirable enough, worthy of someone’s want,” Sumner explained. She said she asks men: “How early did that start? Who told you that, and how many times did you hear it before you believed it? That doesn’t get fixed by a partner’s reassurance, no matter how many times they say it doesn’t matter.”

In Sumner’s experience, some men who worry about their penis size may “compensate by becoming extremely giving lovers, which sounds great until you realise the giving is driven by not feeling good enough. They’re working overtime to make sure their partner comes so they won’t be evaluated on size,” she said. “Their partner might be having orgasms and still sense something’s off because the generosity isn’t coming from desire, it’s coming from fear. And their partner can feel the difference between giving and performing.”

Either way, she said, the anxiety takes over. “They’re so busy scanning their partner’s face for disappointment that they’ve left their own body.”

Sumner advises clients to talk to their partners about their fears. “Tell your partner about how you’re feeling in your body, if it’s impacting your capacity to be present. It’s not your partner’s job to make your insecurities go away, and their reassurance will fall flat because of it. You are responsible for your own pleasure and advocating for what you are available for sexually. Feeling insecure and don’t want your partner to look or touch your penis that day? Tell them, and see if they’re into exploring what else feels good. Don’t apologise, own it.”

Sumner said it’s important for people with small penises to remember that penetrative sex isn’t the only way to perform or enjoy sex with a partner.

“Your partner is almost certainly less focused on your penis than you are,” she said. “If you’re fixating on size as the measure of whether you’re good in bed, you’re solving for the wrong thing. What makes sex satisfying is communication, presence and play, and none of those require a specific body part.”

DeSeta also recommends choosing positions that maximise sensation: “Explore positions that create deeper contact and more friction.”

For people having sex with partners with vulvas, she recommends: “Try missionary with a pillow under the hips, from behind on all fours, or face-to-face sitting with one partner on the other’s lap. These positions allow for more control of angle, depth, and pressure.”

If you’re having sex with a partner who also has a penis and prostate, the same principles apply: Angles that provide more friction and more control over the depth of penetration for anal sex can include: penetrating your partner from behind on all fours, having your receiving partner “ride” on top (finding their own desired rhythm and leaving your hands available for additional stimulation) or side penetration.

Though, it should be noted, there are plenty of ways to feel pleasure on the receiving end of anal sex without an overemphasis on prostate stimulation, there’s no limit to the toys you can introduce as accomplices if your partner really likes those sensations.

And, most of all, for any partner with any parts, it can be helpful to engage with and get curious about different erogenous zones instead of putting all of the pressure on penetration: “A lot of people define ‘sex’ as penetration, but sex is so much more than that, and penetration isn’t the only way to create pleasure,” DeSeta said. “Expand your definition of sex, explore the body’s erogenous zones, and remember that sex is mental, not just physical. Like I always say, ‘Sex is between the ears, not just the legs.’”

As DeSeta concludes: “There was no sex ed lesson on pleasure, so it’s time to educate ourselves now.”

And, most of all, she urges people who want to elevate their sex lives to “learn the basics” of their own and their partner’s anatomy and bust open your preconceived notions about what sex is supposed to look like.

Last month, Jorghino incited a media frenzy when he shared a post on his Instagram story, claiming that while his wife and her daughter were staying at a hotel, they experienced a “very upsetting situation”, which he alleged was caused when Chappell sent her security guard to confront the 11-year-old for walking past her table while she ate breakfast.

As details of this alleged confrontation became more widespread, the Pink Pony Club singer spoke out to insist she had no knowledge of what had transpired, and that the security guard in question did not work for her.

This security guard later shared his own statement, confirming that he didn’t work for Chappell and taking “full responsibility” for what transpired at the hotel.

“I made a judgment call based on information we obtained from the hotel, events I had witnessed in the days prior and the heightened overall security risk of our location,” he said. “My sole interaction with the mother was calm and with good intentions, and the outcome of the encounter is regretful.”

On Monday evening, Jorghino shared a lengthy post on his story, accepting this version of events.

“We have been seeing and hearing a lot over the past few weeks and felt it was important to clarify everything now that new information has come to light,” he said.

“I made my initial statement in the heat of the moment, after hearing that my child and wife had been approached by an adult male security guard in an intimidating way. I reacted as any father would. My priority is, and always will be, protecting my family, and that is exactly what I did.”

He continued: “I also want to make clear that the situation did occur as it was originally described. At the time, we acted on the information that was available to us.

“Since then, I have become aware of new information that has changed my understanding of parts of what happened. Chappell Roan made a public statement, reached out privately to Catherine, and our teams also spoke directly. It became clear that she had no knowledge of what took place at breakfast and had not asked anyone to approach them. She was understanding and sympathetic to what had happened to our child.

“The security guard himself has since confirmed publicly that he was representing another artist at the hotel at the time. While we still do not know what prompted him to approach them, and do not believe an 11-year-old at breakfast could reasonably be seen as any kind of security threat, it is now clear that he was not acting on behalf of Chappell.

“It was, ultimately, a misunderstanding in that respect, and I am glad to set the record straight. It’s important to me that this is clarified fairly and accurately.”

He concluded: “I regret the impact this situation has had on Chappell Roan, Catherine, Ada, and our family.

“I will always stand up for my family. But I also know how to recognise when things were not quite what they seemed at first.

“Thank you for the support we received during this sensitive moment. I do, however, want to make one thing very clear: I do not support or encourage hate speech or online attacks from any side. Respect, empathy, and humility are values I carry and teach my family every single day. As far as I am concerned, this matter is closed.”

A spokesperson for the Grammy-winning performer previously insisted to Page Six that Chappell “holds her own teams to the highest standards” and has “zero tolerance for aggressive behaviour toward her or her fans”.

Getting kids out of the door on time for school (or childcare) feels like a day’s work in itself – but experts say a simple ‘launch pad’ method could help you get your foot out of the door without feeling so flustered.

The method involves designating one spot near the front door for school bags, PE kits, shoes, coats and homework, which are all prepped the night before and ready to go in the morning.

The idea is that you’re not rushing around trying to get all their bags together at the last minute, which can increase stress at a time when cortisol levels are already spiking.

David Smith, CEO of Silicon Valley High School, says: “Think of it like a pre-flight checklist. Everything your child needs is gathered, checked, and waiting. There’s no searching, no last-minute panic, just a smooth departure.”

After weeks of lie-ins and unstructured days, the sudden return to early alarms and packed school schedules (especially after a clock change) can leave everyone feeling frazzled.

“The Easter break is long enough that routines slip,” says Smith. “Children adjust quickly to a slower pace, so when school comes back around, mornings can feel chaotic even for families who usually manage them well.”

But the launch pad method takes the chaos out of the equation. Instead of mornings filled with “Where’s your jumper?” and “Have you packed your bag?”, the process becomes straightforward: get dressed, eat breakfast, clean teeth, wash face, brush hair, and pick up what is already waiting by the door.

Pick a fixed location near the front door – a basket, tray or hook works well – and then your kids will know where they need to go to get their stuff each morning, without having to think too much about it.

“The simpler the system, the more likely it is to stick,” says Smith. “If it takes effort to use, it will get abandoned within a week. Make it the easiest option.”

The launch pad only works well if it’s loaded up the night before, he adds. So build a quick five-minute check into the end of your evening – after dinner, or before bed – to ensure everything is where it needs to be. This might include prepping a packed lunch and sticking it in the fridge.

You can also encourage children to pack their own bags, check their timetables, and prepare what they need ahead of time, to give them a sense of ownership.

“When children take responsibility for getting themselves ready, they feel more capable,” says Smith. “That sense of independence carries into the classroom too.”

He ends: “The launch pad is one of those ideas that sounds almost too easy, but the impact it has on a family’s morning can be remarkable.

“When children know exactly what to do and where everything is, the stress evaporates. There’s no nagging, no frantic searching, and no arriving at school flustered before the day has even begun.”

Vitamin D deficiency has long been associated with a higher risk of dementia, though that link doesn’t necessarily prove causality.

A new study published in Neurology, however, followed 800 people over 16 years.

They found that people who had higher vitamin D levels in their 30s and 40s tended to have lower levels of tau protein in later life.

Tau “tangles” have been linked to dementia.

Vitamin D deficiency, which can only be confirmed for sure with a blood test, is believed to affect about one in six UK adults.

The scientists compared participants’ vitamin D levels at the start of the study with brain scans conducted 16 years later.

34% of participants had vitamin D deficiency in the beginning.

Speaking to the University of Galway, the study’s lead author, Dr Martin Mulligan, said: “We found that higher vitamin D levels were associated with lower tau deposition in regions of the brain that are known to be affected earliest in Alzheimer’s disease.

“These results suggest that higher vitamin D levels in midlife may offer protection against developing these tau deposits in the brain and that low vitamin D levels could potentially be a risk factor that could be modified and treated to reduce the risk of dementia”.

And its other lead author, Professor Emer McGrath, pointed out that this study is “among the first to look at younger adults at mid-life, around the average age of 39. Low vitamin D in mid-life may be an important target to reduce the risk of early signs of preclinical dementia in the brain.”

Though compelling, this didn’t definitely prove that vitamin D deficiency increased dementia risk, or that having enough vitamin D prevented it.

“While these findings are very interesting, they only demonstrate an association between vitamin D and early signs of dementia in the brain. Further studies, for example a clinical trial, will be required to determine if vitamin D supplements could prevent dementia,” Professor McGrath said.

But Dr Mulligan added, “These results are promising as they suggest an association between higher Vitamin D levels in early middle age and lower tau burden on average 16 years later. Mid-life is a time where risk factor modification can have a greater impact”.

Unfortunately, many diseases aren’t always straightforward and simple like we want them to be.

For starters, certain health conditions don’t always present with symptoms. Even COVID-19, for example, can be asymptomatic, causing the number of cases to rise. Plus, illnesses can share symptoms. If you’ve ever googled “how to tell if you have a cold, allergies or COVID,” you’re familiar with that.

Along those lines, you might be surprised to hear that symptoms of certain health problems can be spotted in your eye, of all places — even if they aren’t eye diseases.

“Your eyes can reveal a lot about your overall health, often before you notice any changes yourself,” said Dr. Yuna Rapoport, a board-certified ophthalmologist and the founder and director of Manhattan Eye.

Ahead, she and another ophthalmologist share health concerns they can see in your eye, what treatment looks like, how often to see an ophthalmologist and when further medical attention is needed.

While a health care provider typically uses your arm to check your blood pressure, your eyes provide information about it, too.

In fact, “the blood vessels that help to serve the retina are the only microvasculature that can be observed in the body in a non-invasive fashion,” according to Dr. Benjamin Bert, a board-certified ophthalmologist at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. But how?

Basically, consistently high blood pressure can make the walls of the small arteries thick and stiff, leading to pinching and squeezing of the veins.

“In severe cases, the arteries can squeeze against the veins so strongly that it causes a blockage, leading to a retinal vein occlusion,” Bert continued. “Hypertension can also be observed in the retina by the tortuosity, or the curving of the branches of the retinal microvasculature.”

In layman’s terms, that might look like having blurry vision or noticing sharper curves in the eye’s blood vessels.

What treatment entails: The treatment here is pretty obvious: lowering and stabilising blood pressure. “Normalising the blood pressure prevents further damage to the blood vessels and can help stop the progression of the disease,” Bert said.

Some helpful habits for lowering blood pressure include exercising, eating more potassium, limiting alcohol, getting enough sleep, scheduling regular checkups and engaging in stress-reducing activities.

Glaucoma, an eye condition that affects the optic nerve, is sneaky. “Glaucoma is often referred to as a ‘silent thief of sight’ because in early stages, patients don’t typically notice any symptoms,” Rapaport said.

It develops slowly, she continued, and by the time a person notices changes, permanent damage may have already occurred.

However, early signs can be detected through eye exams, particularly when there’s extra pressure, changes in the eye’s color and shape, a thinning cornea or blind spots.

What treatment entails: “Unfortunately, vision loss from glaucoma cannot be reversed, but early detection allows us to slow or stop the progression,” Rapaport said. “This is why regular eye exams (even when your eyes appear/feel healthy!) are so important.”

Remember talking about the eye’s “retinal microvasculature” (basically, the blood vessels)? Diabetes — or more specifically, elevated blood sugar — can affect it, too.

“The elevated blood sugar can damage pericytes, the little cells that are responsible for the integrity of the microvasculature in the retina,” Bert explained. “When these cells are damaged by elevated blood glucose, they disappear, leading to incompetence of the blood vessels.”

That can lead to microaneurysms and “outpouching” from the blood vessels, he continued, which look like red dots on the eyes.

In more severe cases, the blood vessels can leak, making even bigger dots and affecting vision.

What treatment entails: Controlling blood sugar and blood pressure is needed to prevent the progression of diabetes.

If vision changes have occurred, know they aren’t always a sign of “normal aging.” Eye treatments may be necessary, Bert said, such as special injections containing a medicine that can make blood vessels less leaky, preventing the growth of new abnormal blood vessels.

Prepare yourself: This one is pretty gross.

“Demodex blepharitis (DB) is an eyelid disease that is caused by an overgrowth of Demodex mites — microscopic parasites that live in eyelash follicles,” Rapaport said.

Even something as “innocent” and everyday as applying mascara can lead to it.

While you may experience symptoms that look like allergies, know that DB can be asymptomatic. Further, the disease won’t “just go away” on its own.

“Eye crust” is a red flag. “I can spot a patient with DB by analyzing the upper eyelid margin during an eye exam for the presence of crusties, otherwise known as collarettes,” Rapaport said.

What treatment entails: Good news: There’s a Food and Drug Administration-approved prescription eye drop that can treat and kill those pesky mites. Consider asking your ophthalmologist about it.

This is clearly one of the most dangerous health concerns an ophthalmologist can spot. The mass can increase cerebrospinal fluid pressure, Bert said, causing papilledema, or a swelling of the optic nerve.

To be clear, papilledema doesn’t automatically mean a person has a brain tumor or mass, but it’s something to check regardless.

What treatment entails: Ophthalmologists can test for this with an automated visual field test, which helps locate the abnormality. Then, after a diagnosis, your provider will order an MRI to assess the possible risk of a mass.

“This can often help to get patients earlier care and intervention with an oncology/neurosurgery/neurology team,” Bert said.

Inflammation in the eye — whether the front or the back — can be a sign of various autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, syphilis or even lymphoma, according to Rapaport.

It can present with eye-related symptoms, for better or for worse, such as light sensitivity, eye pain, redness and decreased vision, that may be benign.

Again, routine visits to the eye doctor are vital, even for conditions that don’t seemingly have to do with the eyes.

What treatment entails: Rapaport said she starts with topical steroid drops and, if needed, oral steroids. She also orders an autoimmune workup to see if there’s an underlying condition, and coordinates care with an appropriate specialist if needed.

As illustrated by those examples, and according to Rapoport, seeing an eye doctor can be valuable even if you don’t have eye concerns. Not just once, either.

“It is advisable for everyone to see an eye doctor or surgeon once a year for routine monitoring, so that these issues can be identified in a timely fashion,” Bert said.

Any extra regularity depends on each person’s individual needs and health profile.

“For example, if someone has the start of signs of diabetic retinopathy, they may need to be seen monthly,” Bert continued. “However, someone who has a known diagnosis of diabetes and has their blood sugar controlled with no signs of diabetic retinopathy may be able to be seen annually.”

Experiencing eye or eyelid irritation, redness, swelling, inflammation or vision changes are other reasons to make an eye appointment ASAP, Rapaport added.

And of course, you may need to see other doctors if the ophthalmologist detects a non-eye concern. For example, a cardiologist for high blood pressure or an endocrinologist for signs of diabetes.

Don’t wait, just go. Protect your body before any potential problem worsens.

A former Donald Trump official reacted to the president’s strange excuse for posting a meme that depicted him as Jesus by calling for his immediate removal from office.

Trump posted the AI-generated image showing him as a Christ-like figure, and, after lots of criticism, including some people who suggested he just might be the Antichrist, dubiously claimed he thought the image “was me as a doctor.”

Many people were sceptical of Trump’s frankly lame excuse for posting the meme, including former White House press secretary Anthony Scaramucci, who suggested on Monday it was time to kick Trump out of office for good.

“This guy should be removed immediately before his lack of impulse control causes an irreversible tragedy,” Scaramucci said on X. “He doesn’t believe what he just said, if he does it’s a cognitive crisis that responsible people would act on immediately.”

During the first Trump administration, Scaramucci, who mainly worked as a financier, served as White House press decretary for a whopping 10 days.

He has since spent a lot more time than that criticising his former boss.

Last month, he put a spin on the definition of “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” a so-called condition that the MAGA crowd claims affects the millions of people who don’t support the president.

He told Don Lemon the real people suffering from “TDS” are the folks “that are with him still.”

“Those are the people that are deranged,” he said. “Those are the people that have lost touch with reality in terms of how much damage he and his cronies are causing the country and the world.”

In November, Scaramucci told “The Daily Beast Podcast” the truth about Trump’s popularity with donors, aides and Republican Party officials: He’s not.

“Anybody who thinks the party likes him doesn’t understand the party,” Scaramucci explained. “And that could be the donors who hold their nose and give him money, or that could be the political class that lives with them in Washington.”

He added that “if you’re inside Trump’s inner orbit, you hate the guy’s guts,” but said “there’s a dance because you’re afraid of him, because he’s intimidating you, because of his political prowess and his media presence.”

“He’s sort of the big furry, he’s sasquatch of social media. And you don’t want him bigfooting your ass, right? So you’re afraid of him, but you hate his guts,” Scaramucci said.

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As conversations around children’s screen time and social media use continue to swirl, it’s perhaps no wonder experts are noticing a trend for “faking” screen time data.

UK search interest for ‘fake screen time’ has reached a five-year high, according to Google Keyword Planner data analysed by Bupa UK. In the last year alone, searches rose by 500%.

Parents can manage and monitor their children’s screen time to prevent excessive usage. But kids are clearly intent on finding workarounds – from using screen time faker apps, to more elaborate methods that leave even the most tech-savvy parents perplexed.

“Can someone help me make a screen time faker?” asked one young person on Reddit, noting their “parents are getting stricter” and they needed to “fake” their usage stats.

Some teens are spending up to 14 hours per day on social media apps and games, according to the BBC. Meanwhile, there was a 52% increase in children’s screen time between 2020 and 2022, and nearly 25% use their phones in a way that’s consistent with a behavioural addiction.

While having access to phones and the internet can help kids bond with friends and find new communities, there are also plenty of downsides.

Research shows social media could have a detrimental impact on teen mental health. Too much screen time can also hamper a child’s ability to focus, process and recall, as well as impacting language learning.

There’s also the addictive element. “Many apps that we use every day are designed to generate constant dopamine hits – a chemical released in our brains that makes us feel good. When you can take your device anywhere, you can get constant dopamine hits every time you check your phone,” says Dr Lukha.

“Constant exposure to dopamine from your device can lead to a tolerance, meaning the effect of the dopamine hit lessens. This leaves you spending more time on the app, trying to seek that same feel-good hit that you initially found. A similar principle can be found for other addictive behaviours, like gambling, drinking alcohol, or taking drugs.”

Over time, addictive behaviours can lead to other problems, like neglecting daily responsibilities or relationships.

“Many of us use our smartphones to help us feel better connected to others, however spending too much time in front of your screen can actually increase loneliness in the long run, and leave teens particularly vulnerable to comparison culture, which may make them more prone to developing depression,” adds Dr Lukha.

“Being chronically online may lead to an increased risk of bullying, exploitation and pressure to look a certain way in younger people. Linked with this risk comes greater proneness to anxiety, low self-worth and eating disorders.”

There’s also the physical element to consider – prolonged device use can lead to eye strain, increased risk of headaches, blurred vision and shoulder pain, along with health conditions like heart disease.

As conversations around screen time and social media use dominate headlines, parents will understandably want to find ways to curb their children’s usage.

As a benchmark, more than two hours a day of screen time is seen to be excessive, notes Dr Lukha. Yet research shows many teens spend eight hours per day on screens.

“When it comes to reviewing daily screen use, teens who have knowingly, or unknowingly, exceeded their agreed limit may be tempted to fake their statistics for several reasons,” she explains.

“Regardless of whether they’ve exceeded their screen time agreement by minutes or hours, teens may feel ashamed of their metrics. They may also be worried about any repercussions from their parents, when asked to share their stats.

“On the other hand, teens may feel like monitoring their screen use isn’t necessary, especially if their friends aren’t monitored similarly. Or if their friends use their phone as frequently as they do, or more.”

The one thing not to do here is lecture them. Instead, tact is needed in order to manage the situation “without sparking anxiety, arguments or withdrawals”, says Dr Lukha.

Here’s what she recommends:

Firstly, consider whether you’re setting a good example with your own smartphone use – and if not, it’s worth considering ways to manage it and carve out screen-free time.

“If you find it hard to step away from your phone, try urge-surfing,” Dr Lukha says. “Urge-surfing is a technique that encourages you to pay attention to the feeling of the urge, rather than trying to ignore it completely.

“Confronting your urges head on helps you acknowledge them, which means you’re less likely to slip up and mindlessly scroll. This technique could be useful for your teen to know, too.”

Instead of confiscating devices, try to introduce periods of time where they are not the focus of their attention. It might be easier if you do this as a family, so it doesn’t feel unfair.

Dr Lukha notes you could make dinner together and use recipe books rather than a device, or introduce a no-phones-at-the-table rule so you can catch up with each other.

If your teen uses their phone as an alarm, it might be worth investing in a digital alarm clock so they can keep devices off one-hour before bedtime – and throughout the night. Encourage them to charge their phone away from their bedtime, so temptation is out of reach. You could even set it as a challenge for the whole family.

If teens are spending hours on phones, think about what else they could be doing in that time – for example, joining clubs or giving new hobbies a try.

“Try to remind your teen of the things they used to enjoy, and ask them if they’d like to give them another go,” says Dr Lukha.

“Whether it’s something familiar for your teen, or something new, it could be nice to try it together with them – that way, you can share some unplugged time, and maybe even do some bonding, too.”

The expert notes that if a teenager’s screen use has suddenly increased or they start to panic when their phone isn’t within reach, it could be a sign that something deeper is going on.

“Don’t be afraid to ask them about it, but try to frame it from an area of concern, rather than accusation,” she suggests.

You could say something along the lines of: “I’ve noticed you’ve been spending a lot more time on your phone. I realised we’ve not had a catch-up recently, so I wanted to check if there’s anything new going on with you.”

And don’t forget that health professionals can also help. High smartphone usage may be a coping mechanism for other things going on in their life, Dr Lukha says, adding: “Talking therapies, like cognitive behavioural therapy, may be useful to get to the route of the problem, and give your teen healthier strategies that aren’t centred around their phone.”