Social media giants like Facebook should be forced to release their “insidious grip” on young people, the head of the NHS has said.

Backing The Telegraph’s campaign for a “duty of care” to web users, Simon Stevens said such firms should face up to their responsiblities, fuelling pressures on today’s children.

Last month the chief executive of NHS England promised a “major ramp-up” of mental health services, in order to deal with the fallout for an explosion of social media.

Today he urged social media companies to get their house in order, by doing more to protect children from addictive habits and dangerous content.

The father of two told The Telegraph: “Social media companies must face up to their responsibilities. There is emerging evidence of a link between semi-addictive and manipulative online activities and mental health pressures on our teenagers and young people.