The UK government recently stepped up their efforts to address online child safety by publishing national guidance that urges parents to strictly limit screen exposure in early years over health and development risks.
The new recommendations advise no screen exposure for children under two except for shared activities. For those aged two to five, usage should be capped at one hour per day, with additional guidance to avoid screens at mealtimes and before bed.
Officials warned prolonged solo screen use could disrupt sleep and displace essential activities such as play, exercise and face-to-face interactions.
They also flagged risks linked to fast-paced and short-form social media content and certain AI-enabled toys, advising parents to prioritise slower, age-appropriate material and co-viewing. However, the guidance carved out exceptions for screen-based assistive technologies supporting children with special educational needs.
National data highlighted the scale of the issue: a hefty 98 per cent of two-year-olds in the UK use screens daily, while 25 per cent of parents with children aged three to five report challenges controlling usage.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the government would not “leave parents to face this battle alone”, adding families require “clear, common-sense tips” amid “fast-moving technology and conflicting information online”.
The guidance will be delivered through the UK government’s Best Start in Life online platform and a network of family hubs as part of a wider digital safety crackdown. Additional measures under consultation include potential social media age limits, tighter controls on AI tools and expanded regulatory powers.
The move lands as social media giants face mounting global scrutiny over child safety. A US court ruling this week found Meta Platforms and Google negligent for addictive features that allegedly harmed a young user. Meanwhile last week, a BBC report found TikTok and Meta pushed harmful content on their algorithms to drive user engagement and profit.
Source: Mobile World Live
Image Credit: Stock Image
