UK Government Issues New Screen Time Guidelines for Children Under Five
The UK government has issued new guidelines advising parents to limit screen time for children under five to one hour a day. The guidance, supported by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, aims to help families develop healthy digital habits beneficial to their children’s early development.
Children under two should avoid screens unless participating in shared interactive activities. For those aged two to five, the guidelines recommend restricting screen time to less than an hour daily and avoiding fast-paced content or social media videos.
The advisory panel, led by Rachel de Souza and Russell Viner, found that excessive screen use can lead to sleep problems, decreased physical activity, and difficulty forming real relationships. The government plans to implement a social media ban for users under 16 and restrict smartphone usage in all schools. Critics argue for stronger measures to address the broader negative effects of digital platforms.