Parents, take note! In a bid to prioritize children’s well-being, Sweden’s health authorities have recently unveiled stringent new guidelines to curb screen time among the younger population.
According to the newly released recommendations, children under the age of two should not be exposed to any screens at all. The guidelines also advise that teens should limit their screen time to a maximum of three hours a day. These measures aim to support more healthy, conscious, and responsible use of screens and digital media.
Detailed within these new guidelines, kids aged between two to five years should only have up to one hour of screen time per day. Meanwhile, children aged six to twelve are advised to restrict their screen usage to no more than two hours daily. This is a stark contrast to the current average screen time among Swedish youth, which clocks in at about four hours a day for nine- to twelve-year-olds and more than seven hours a day for seventeen- and eighteen-year-olds—not counting school-related activities.
Jakob Forssmed, the Minister of Social Affairs, emphasized the negative impacts of excessive screen time, including worsened sleep and symptoms of depression. He stated, “For far too long we have allowed screens and apps to steal time and attention at the cost of what we know is needed to feel well.” Forssmed further remarked that the new age-appropriate recommendations are designed to provide necessary support to parents, caregivers, and children alike.
Additionally, the guidelines recommend avoiding screen use before bedtime and keeping screens out of bedrooms at night. Helena Frielingsdorf, a public health authority investigator, stressed the importance of parents serving as role models when it comes to screen usage. “As parents, you are a role model,” she stated.
These recommendations are not isolated to Sweden. Earlier this year, a French study spearheaded by President Emmanuel Macron also concluded that children under three should not be exposed to screens. The French government even considered banning smartphones for primary school students and launched trials on mobile phone bans in schools for students up to age fifteen.
Forssmed highlighted the importance of open conversations about screen usage, including discussions about time spent online and the potential exposure to different types of content. “There are important and needed conversations,” he added, stressing the necessity for these guidelines to support such discussions.
Sweden’s new screen time guidelines are a decisive step towards fostering healthier digital habits among children and teenagers. By setting clear boundaries, the health authorities aim to mitigate the negative impacts of excessive screen use while encouraging more meaningful interactions and better sleep patterns.
Source: Theguardian