Sweden says children under 2 should have zero screen time

Swedish health authorities have issued new recommendations to restrict screen time for young people. 

Sweden has made a firm statement in the ongoing debate over children and screens: for kids under two, there should be no screen time. At all.

Health authorities have issued new recommendations for parents regarding screen time for young people. For ages two to five, it’s limited to an hour a day, and for children six to twelve, a maximum of two hours.

The suggestions may sound extreme, but they come as part of a growing global concern about the effects of digital devices on young minds.

It’s not news that screens may significantly interfere with essential early development. Research suggests that too much screen time could stunt social skills, slow cognitive growth, and replace more valuable activities like playing with toys, reading, or simply interacting with humans.

Similar recommendations have come out of other countries as well, including the United States, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and France.

France currently has the strictest suggestions, stating that children under the age of 3 should have no screen time at all.

In 2023, UNESCO reported that while digital technology can aid education through new learning environments and expanded collaboration, it comes at a cost to socialisation and real-life learning.

Of course, these guidelines haven’t gone over smoothly with everyone. A quick scroll through Reddit or any parenting forum shows an expected mix of frustration and eye-rolls.

Many parents, juggling work, household duties, and the demands of daily life, argue that some form of screen time is essential.

‘If you have multiple children, you get it. My son and daughter spend 80% of their time playing with us, or outside, or in some sort of planned social activity. F**** you if you tell me that I’m a bad parent for letting them watch a Disney movie, or an animal show, when I need 30-60 minutes to take care of myself’ said one user.

Others have argued the issue is more complex than a blanket ‘recommendation’ can account for.

‘There’s a difference between giving your kid an iPad (don’t) and putting on educational content for a little while so you don’t go manic’.

‘Millennial parents acting like they weren’t raised on Nickelodeon, WB, and Cartoon Network, followed-up by Toonami when they were older. We weren’t any better, but we turned out okay because our parents still struck a balance by occasionally kicking us out of the house to go play with neighbor kids, school sports, or other alternative activities like Scouts.’