David Gandy wants social media "switched off for everyone" because it's "unregulated", "addictive" and "it's doing huge damage"

He told The Times newspaper: "It's a massive problem. It's unregulated, addictive and people don't understand how algorithms work.

"If it was up to me I'd switch social media off for everyone. It's doing huge damage to young men - and women. It should come with a health warning like cigarettes and alcohol."

He went on to back the Australian government's plan to ban all under-16s from using platforms like Instagram, adding: "If the [UK] government wants to do anything quickly, that's it. Ban it until at least 16."

David previously admitted he has taken a big step back from social media in recent years because his partner Stephanie Mendoros is a barrister and needs to "maintain discretion" for the sake of her career.

Speaking on Italian TV show Verissimo, he said: "We are discreet because that's our choice. My partner is a barrister, a very high-up lawyer, so she is very clever and powerful.

"Within her job, she needs to maintain discretion, and that's how we are as a family, so you won't see any of us on social media."

David noted that it might seem "a bit strange" to others that he doesn't share family pictures online but insisted that he and Stephanie had already enjoyed a showbiz lifestyle before they became parents.

He said: "I could talk a lot about her and our children, but you will probably very rarely see a picture of us. That's just the way we decided to do it. I know it might seem a bit strange in many ways.

"Before the children, she came to experience my life, my job, and what I get to do on sets and at events around the world. "We had a lot of fun together, but as soon as we had kids, we decided to be very, very private."