The British government’s forthcoming guidance on young children’s use of tablets, smartphones and other screens cannot come soon enough. The laissez-faire approach to the boom in social media, handheld devices and other digital technology was arguably nowhere less suitable than when such machines were placed in front of babies.
Concerning data from the Department for Education’s ongoing Children of the 2020s study has found that 98% of two-year-olds watch screens on a typical day for more than two hours. Those who spent the most time had smaller vocabularies and were twice as likely as other children to show signs of emotional and behavioural difficulties. While correlation does not equal causation, these findings, combined with observations by teachers, are highly worrying.
A recent survey by the charity Kindred Squared revealed that 37% of four-year-olds arrived at primary school in 2025 without basic life skills such as dressing and eating – up from 33% two years earlier. Stresses caused by the high cost of living, cuts to local early years services and other factors undoubtedly play a role, but many teachers, along with one of their unions, the NASUWT, believe the impact of screens must be addressed.
The World Health Organization recommends that children under two should not use screens at all. While such prohibitions are unlikely to be heeded by the majority, ministers could be more ambitious in making the case for a precautionary approach. The importance of early speech, communication and emotional development should be clearly explained, and parents given support when they need it.
The debate around regulation has dramatically shifted in recent weeks, sparked by global outrage over nudification on social media platforms and the ease with which such images can be shared. With a number of Labour MPs sympathetic, the government is under pressure to introduce an age limit of 16 for social media apps, following Australia’s example.
Tougher rules are needed, but in the rush to gain political advantage, there is a risk of issues becoming confused. When considering screens and pre-school children, a key question is what other activities (books, toys, ball games) are being replaced, and why this matters. Weighing the impact of social media and smartphones on teenagers involves different calculations. Nudification apps are a distinct problem.
The wider message of the past few weeks is that democratic oversight of the tech industry needs to accelerate. Ofcom’s prompt response to the nudification outcry was welcome. Warnings about screens and toddlers should be heeded, but politicians and campaigners must ensure their focus remains clear-sighted and evidence-based.
