Sweden Seeks to Ban Screen Time for Children Under 2 Years of Age
Sweden’s public health agency has issued new recommendations stating that children under the age of 2 should not be exposed to any digital screens, reflecting a global trend to limit screen time for young children. The guidelines suggest that children aged 2 to 5 should have a maximum of one hour of screen time daily, while those aged 6 to 12 should have up to two hours, and teenagers should be limited to three hours. These recommendations come in response to research indicating negative effects from excessive screen time, such as poor sleep, depression, and reduced physical activity.
Other countries have released similar guidelines, with France proposing the most stringent measures by recommending no screen time for children under 3. While some countries, like the U.S. and Ireland, allow toddlers to participate in video calls with family, Sweden does not classify this differently.
Many schools in the U.S. have implemented cellphone bans, using methods like pouches and lockdowns, though enforcement has been inconsistent. Critics argue that these bans are inadequate, emphasizing the need for alternative activities to reduce reliance on screens. A UNESCO report highlights the balance between the benefits of digital technology in education and the potential harm to socialization and real-life learning experiences, ultimately calling for better regulations around children’s online safety and wellbeing.
Recent studies have pointed to developmental delays linked to excessive screen time in young children, raising concerns among policymakers and advocates regarding the impact of social media on teen mental health. This growing concern has driven legal actions in several U.S. states against social media companies, suggesting they contribute to youth mental health crises by creating addictive platforms.
Sweden says children under the age of 2 should not be exposed to any digital screens. The recommendations, issued by the Scandinavian country’s public health agency earlier this month as a new school year begins, are the latest in a worldwide effort to limit screen time for young children. The coronavirus lockdowns exacerbated the problem as schools turned to Zoom for distance-learning and parents relied on TV shows and movies to keep their children occupied while they worked from home.
Sweden suggests that toddlers should not have any exposure to digital screens, including television. The recommendations ease slightly as the children age: From 2 to 5 years old, they should have a maximum of one hour a day in front of a screen, while for youngsters aged 6 to 12 it is two hours. Teenagers should have no more than three hours of screen time a day.
Sweden’s suggestions came after research found that children reported negative effects like poorer sleep, depression and limited physical activity with high use of digital devices.
Similar recommendations have come out of other countries as well, including the United States, Ireland, Canada, Australia and France.
France has the strictest suggestions so far, saying children under 3 should not have any time in front of screens. The recommendation comes from a report published in April that was commissioned by President Emmanuel Macron.
Ireland and the U.S. say babies and toddlers can engage in video calls with family and friends — though Canada, Australia and Sweden do not make such distinctions.
Cellphone bans are already in place at many schools across the United States. Cellphone pouches, lockers and bins have grown in popularity to help carry out the prohibitions.
But the bans are not always enforced, and students often find ways to bend the rules, like hiding phones on their laps. Some parents have expressed concerns that bans could cut them off from their kids if there is an emergency, such as a school shooting.
But while the bans are gaining traction, many experts say they are not enough. They argue for alternative stimulation: steering students outdoors or toward extracurricular activities to fill time they might otherwise spend alone online. And students need outlets, they say, to speak about taboo topics without fear of being “canceled” on social media.
A 2023 UNESCO report says while digital technology can augment education — through new learning environments and expanded connections and collaboration — it comes at a cost to socialization and real-life learning. Negative effects on physical and mental health also play a role.
The report additionally noted insufficient regulations around unauthorized use of personal data for commercial purposes, as well as the spread of misinformation and hate speech online.
“Such challenges may cancel out any benefits,” the UNESCO authors wrote.
And a study published last year in JAMA Pediatrics researched a potential link between screen time for young children and developmental delays.
“In this study, greater screen time for children aged 1 year was associated with developmental delays in communication and problem-solving at ages 2 and 4 years,” the study said.
Policymakers and children’s advocates are growing increasingly concerned with teens’ relationships with their phones and social media.
Last fall, dozens of U.S. states, including California and New York, sued Instagram and owner Meta Platforms Inc. for harming young people and contributing to the youth mental health crisis by knowingly and deliberately designing features that addict children.
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