LONDON, March 27 - The UK government has issued its strongest guidance yet on children’s screen use, advising zero screen time for children under 2 and no more than one hour per day for those aged 2 to 5.
The national recommendations warn that prolonged solo screen exposure can disrupt sleep and displace critical physical play and social interaction. Parents are urged to avoid screens during mealtimes and the hour before bed, choose slow-paced, age-appropriate content, and co-view with their children to support language and emotional development.
A quarter of British parents with 3- to 5-year-olds report difficulty managing screen time, while 98% of 2-year-olds use screens daily, according to government data.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the need for “clear, common-sense” direction as families navigate rapidly evolving digital environments. An expert panel behind the guidance cautioned against fast-paced, social-media-style videos and AI-powered toys for young children-but exempted screen-based assistive tools used by kids with special educational needs.
The move aligns with broader European efforts to tighten online safety for minors, including proposed social media age limits, overnight usage curfews, and restrictions on AI chatbots. Meanwhile, a Los Angeles jury recently ruled Meta and Google negligent in a landmark case involving harm to a young user-a verdict that could shape thousands of similar lawsuits.