Countries around the world are taking action to address the growing concern over children's excessive screen time.
Sweden's public health agency recently issued new guidelines recommending strict limits on screen time for children and teenagers. This measure was put in place to protect the kids from the negative health effects of excessive screen use.
The guidelines tell parents that children under two must be kept screen-free, while teens should cap their screen time at three hours daily. For a balanced approach, kids aged two to five should have no more than one hour of screen time per day, those aged six to 12 should limit it to two hours, and teens between 13 and 18 should stick to a maximum of three hours each day.
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"For too long, smartphones and other screens have been allowed to enter every aspect of our children's lives," stated Public Health Minister Jakob Forssmed.
Forssmed emphasized that this limits time for activities, exercise, and rest, and raised concerns about a "sleep crisis," with over half of Swedish 15-year-olds lacking enough sleep.
On Monday, the Netherlands has implemented a nationwide ban on mobile phones, smart watches, and tablets in primary and secondary schools. This regulation seeks to mitigate concerns about the adverse effects these devices may have on students' academic performance and social interactions.
Previously, the country's individual secondary schools had already adopted their own bans starting in January. This new policy expands the prohibition to all educational levels, including primary schools.
Meanwhile, Singapore is also stepping up its efforts. In July, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung and Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli advocated for stricter regulations on device usage, especially for children.
Although Singapore's Ministry of Health has already issued formal advisories urging parents to limit screen exposure, these new calls for stricter regulations reflect a growing recognition of the need to address the potential risks associated with excessive screen time.
On the other side of the globe in the UK, there is a growing movement among parents to limit children's screen time. Major mobile network operator EE has responded to increasing concerns about social media risks by recommending that primary school children should not have smartphones with internet and social media access.
EE advises parents to use "limited capability devices" that allow only texts and calls and plans to introduce parental controls for teenagers under 16, with restrictions on social media access for children under 13.
Where Else in the World Limits Children's Screen Time?
Last year, China’s cyberspace administration introduced the "Guidelines for the Establishment of Minors’ Modes for the Mobile Internet." This initiative aims to create a comprehensive, government-led parental control system that spans multiple platforms and devices.
Unlike past regulations that primarily targeted app companies, the changed guidelines mandate coordination among app developers, app store providers, and manufacturers of smartphones and smart devices.
In Taiwan, the Child and Youth Welfare Protection Act requires parents to monitor their children’s screen time, with potential fines for excessive use that impacts health. The country's Ministry of Health and Welfare recommends 30 minutes of screen time daily for three-year-olds and one hour for four- to six-year-olds, with breaks to rest their eyes.
According to a JAMA Pediatrics study, which analyzed the screen usage of about 30,000 children aged 3 to 18 from 2020 to 2022, found a striking 52% global increase in screen time since the onset of the pandemic. This rise underscores the world's urgent need for effective solutions to manage and reduce excessive screen time among youth.
Click here to read data about Filipino kids' digital and online use.
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