Sweden becomes part of the global push to restrict screen time for children under 2

Sweden’s public health agency has recently recommended that children under the age of 2 should not have any exposure to digital screens, including television, as part of efforts to limit screen time for young children globally. The guidelines ease as children age, with 2 to 5-year-olds advised to have a maximum of one hour of screen time per day, 6 to 12-year-olds limited to two hours, and teenagers recommended to have no more than three hours daily.

Research has shown negative impacts of excessive screen time on children, such as poor sleep, depression, and limited physical activity. Similar recommendations have been made by countries like the United States, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and France. France has the strictest guidelines, suggesting no screen time for children under 3, while Ireland and the U.S. allow video calls for babies and toddlers.

In the United States, many schools have implemented cellphone bans, although enforcement can be challenging as students often find ways to bypass the rules. Experts advocate for alternative activities to replace screen time, such as outdoor activities or extracurriculars, to encourage socialization and prevent isolation. Concerns about the negative impacts of excessive screen time include hindered socialization, potential developmental delays in children, and issues related to misinformation and hate speech online.

Policymakers and children’s advocates are increasingly worried about the effects of excessive phone and social media use on teenagers. Lawsuits have been filed against tech companies like Meta Platforms Inc., which owns Instagram and Facebook, for allegedly harming young people by designing addictive features. The CEOs of major social media platforms have testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee about the harms their platforms may pose to young users. Sweden’s public health agency has joined the call for tech companies to modify their algorithms to prevent children from excessive scrolling or exposure to harmful content.