A Cancer Research UK-led survey of 4,000 children and young people aged 11 to 21 found that 52% had seen unhealthy food and drink posts from businesses or influencers on social media in the last month, and 39% engaged with those posts by commenting, liking or sharing. Participants were more likely to interact with content from influencers than from brands. An 11-year-old told the charity: “A giant cookie bowl keeps showing up; when I see it, I feel like ordering a dessert and I feel really hungry.”\n\nCancer Research UK said ministers should tighten online marketing rules to shield young people from content that can drive overeating. The laws due to come into force in 2026 will end paid-for advertising of foods high in fat, sugar and salt online. The charity said the legislation should go ahead after repeated delays and warned that some exposure will persist through online advertising loopholes. It noted that organisers estimate about 10 million people in the UK are hooked on junk food. A 15-year-old told the charity: “I’d say at least every two minutes that I’m on Instagram I’d see at least one food-related post.” Next month, experts will meet in September 2025 at the International Food Addiction and Comorbidity Conference in London to discuss concerns about food addiction.\n\nA Government spokesperson said obesity robs children of the best start in life and costs the NHS billions. The plan to restrict junk-food advertising online is described as a key step to raise the healthiest generation of children. The spokesperson said reducing young people’s exposure could remove up to 7.2 billion calories from UK children’s diets each year and deliver around £2 billion in health benefits.