A report finds a third of newborns use devices for more than three hours, despite government advice that under-twos have no screen time at all
The Times
More than two-thirds of babies under two use screens, a report has found, and some are exposed for up to eight hours a day.
Nearly a third of newborns were found to be watching screens for more than three hours a day, while almost 20 per cent of infants of four to 11 months used screens for more than an hour a day.
The report comes after the government issued guidance that children under two do not use screens at all, apart from communal activities such as video-calling relatives.
The report, from the 1001 Critical Days Foundation and the iAddict research group, involved a survey, a focus group and a literature review to examine the extent and potential impact of infant screen use.
The findings demonstrate a “reality gap” between government advice and everyday life, the foundation said.
Will Quince, the former education and health minister and the chief executive of the Foundation, added: “The burden of screen time cannot fall solely on parents. Tech companies must wake up to the realities of the impact of screen time on babies. Content ratings are currently misleading parents, rating content as ‘suitable for all ages’ or ‘suitable for 0+’. We are calling on major tech companies to urgently review these standards.”
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In a review of the current research, researchers found evidence linking screen time to poorer outcomes for children, including an increased risk of obesity, short-sightedness, sleep and behavioural difficulties, and later challenges with friendships.
Dame Andrea Leadsom, the founder of the 1001 foundation, said: “Screens are the challenge of our time, and this research demonstrates a critical area where parents urgently need more support. It’s joyful but hard work having a small baby, and we should be doing everything possible to make it easier, not harder.”
In a survey to examine screen time, 154 parents answered questions online and 18 additional families attended in-person focus groups.
The research also revealed why children and parents use screens, with families reporting children doing so for educational purposes, entertainment, play and to communicate and bond with others. Parents, meanwhile, used screens to occupy or distract children, which helped caregivers to complete domestic duties, paid employment and other caring responsibilities.
Nearly a quarter of parents — 23.6 per cent — either had no childcare or were not aware of the government’s early years offer.