LONDON, May 26 (Reuters) - Paul Sandle

Leading British doctors said on Tuesday that social media is as dangerous to children as smoking, and urged lawmakers to address the harm they say excessive screen use is causing to young people.

The Academy of Royal Colleges of Medicine provided details of the impact of social media on children in a memo submitted to the government as part of consultations on protecting children online, which conclude today, Tuesday.

The academy stated, "It is ranked on par with smoking and wearing seat belts in cars."

The academy, which represents 23 Royal Colleges and Universities of Medicine in the UK and Ireland, said: "Few issues have united clinicians so decisively in recent years as the impact of unrestricted exposure to technology and devices on the health of children and young people."

The academy added that more than half of the 132 doctors surveyed saw at least one case of health damage that may be related to technology and devices every week, and more than a third of them saw evidence of such damage several times a week.

The damage ranged from physical injuries, for example resulting from mimicking extreme pornographic acts, to mental health effects, such as trauma resulting from watching online violence.

Britain is holding consultations on imposing restrictions on children's access to social media, including a possible ban for those under 16, as well as banning the use of social media at specific times, setting time limits for the use of apps, and imposing restrictions on what it described as "addictive design features".

Last year, Australia became the first country to ban social media for children under 16, and European countries are considering taking similar measures.