UK issues national guidelines to limit children's screen time

The British government has officially issued a national guideline that limits screen use for children, marking the most decisive intervention to date in regulating early digital habits. This step comes after the government admitted that parents have "fought alone" in the face of exposure to devices such as tablets, televisions, laptops, and smartphones.

In the guide, children under the age of two are advised not to use screens at all. Meanwhile, children aged two to five are advised to use screens for a maximum of one hour per day. The government assesses that excessive screen use - especially without accompaniment - can disrupt sleep quality, reduce play time, and hinder physical activity that is important for children's growth and development.

This policy is part of a global wave in which various countries are beginning to tighten rules regarding the use of the internet and digital media by children. Countries such as France, Denmark, and the Netherlands are also pushing for the implementation of age verification and new security standards, citing the increasing risk of mental health, cyberbullying, and exposure to harmful content.

Even in Indonesia, the government has taken a step further by imposing strict restrictions. Children under the age of 16 are said to be banned from using the popular game platform Roblox after being judged to be high risk for young users.

British government data shows the problem is serious enough. About a quarter of parents with children aged 3 to 5 years admit to having difficulty controlling their children's screen time. In fact, as many as 98 percent of two-year-olds are known to use screen devices every day - a figure that has sparked widespread concern.

The guide also provides practical guidance for parents. Among others, avoid using screens during mealtime and one hour before bedtime, choose slow and age-appropriate content, and accompany children while watching to help develop language and social skills.

The British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, confirmed that the government would no longer allow parents to face this challenge alone. He said families needed clear and reasonable guidance in the midst of very rapid technological developments and an information flood that was often confusing.

The expert panel that drafted these recommendations also warned that children should not be exposed to fast-paced videos on social media and certain artificial intelligence-based toys that are considered unsafe. However, they emphasized that screen-based technology that helps children with special needs should not be completely restricted.

In addition, the British government and other European countries are now also considering additional policies for older children, including setting a minimum age for social media, internet usage curfew, and restrictions on AI-based chatbots.

This step is further strengthened by the jury's decision in Los Angeles which stated that Meta and Google were negligent in designing a feature that allegedly endangered young users. The case is expected to pave the way for thousands of similar lawsuits around the world.

With this policy, Britain confirms its position as one of the countries that is serious about protecting children from the negative impacts of the digital era - a move that is likely to be followed by many other countries.

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