The UK government has issued new guidance advising that children under five should spend no more than one hour a day on screens. For children under two, screen time should be avoided except for shared activities that encourage interaction, such as video calling family or looking at photos together.
The guidance, developed by a panel led by Children's Commissioner Rachel de Souza and health expert Professor Russell Viner, also recommends that screen time for two- to five-year-olds be kept to one hour a day or less. Families are advised to avoid fast-paced social media-style videos and AI-powered toys, and to keep mealtimes and bedtimes screen-free.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the guidance aims to help parents build healthy habits with screens, adding: 'Parenting in a digital world can feel relentless. My government will not leave parents to face this battle alone.' The government is also considering Australia-style measures to limit or ban social media for under-16s.
The panel found that excessive solo screen time harms sleep, physical activity, creative play, and parent-child interaction, which are crucial for development. However, limits should not apply to children with special educational needs using assistive technologies.
Professor Viner stated: 'Too much solo screen time can crowd out the things that make the biggest difference – sleep, play, physical activity and talking with parents and carers.' The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health welcomed the guidance, noting that parents have been 'forced to play a dangerous game of catch-up' in the digital age.
