Sweden prohibits screen time for under-2s.

Sweden relaxes its advice as kids get older: Children aged 2–5 should spend no more than one hour a day on screens, while those aged 6–12 should spend two.

Sweden prohibits digital screens for children under 2. The Nordic country’s public health agency issued the recommendations earlier this month as a new school year begins, the latest global effort to limit screen time for young children. Coronavirus lockdowns worsened the problem as schools used Zoom for distance-learning and parents used TV and films to entertain their kids while working from home.

Sweden says…
Sweden advises against exposing toddlers to digital screens, including TV. As kids get older, the advice eases: Children aged 2–5 should spend no more than one hour a day on screens, while those aged 6–12 should spend two. Teens should limit screen time to three hours per day.

Sweden’s recommendations followed research showing that children with high digital device use had poorer sleep, depression, and less physical activity.

What other nations do this?
The US, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and France have made similar recommendations.

France has the strictest screen-free guidelines for children under 3. President Emmanuel Macron commissioned the April report.

Ireland and the U.S. allow babies and toddlers to video call family and friends, but Canada, Australia, and Sweden do not.

What about U.S. classroom mobile bans?

Many US schools ban cellphones. To enforce the bans, mobile pouches, lockers and bins are popular.

Students often hide phones on their laps to circumvent the bans. Bans could separate parents from their children in emergencies like school shootings, according to some parents.

Although the bans are growing, many experts say they’re not enough. Instead of spending time online, they suggest taking students outside or to extracurricular activities. Students say they need places to discuss taboo topics without being “cancelled” on social media.

It matters why?
Digital technology can improve education through new learning environments, connections, and collaboration, but it costs socialisation and real-world learning, according to a 2023 UNESCO report. Physical and mental health issues also contribute.

The report also noted insufficient regulations on unauthorised commercial use of personal data and online misinformation and hate speech.

“Such challenges may cancel out any benefits,” UNESCO wrote.

Last year, JAMA Paediatrics investigated whether screen time for young children causes developmental delays.

The study found that 1 year-olds with more screen time had communication and problem-solving delays at 2 and 4 years.

What about tech and social media?
Policymakers and children’s advocates are worried about teens’ phone and social media use.

Last autumn, dozens of U.S. states, including California and New York, sued Instagram and Facebook owner Meta Platforms Inc. for knowingly and deliberately designing features that addict children and contributing to the youth mental health crisis.

Meta, TikTok, X, and other social media CEOs testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in January about their platforms’ harms to youth.

Now Sweden’s public health agency wants tech companies to change their algorithms to prevent kids from doom-scrolling for hours or watching harmful content.

Sweden prohibits screen time for under-2s.

By triji

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