The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released a new policy on screen time guidelines for children, for the first time in a decade. The new guidance is shifting the focus away from strict parental policing and toward systemic change from tech giants and governments. “So, previous guidance largely focused on how much screen time kids should have and what parents should do,” said child development expert Sheri Madigan, with the University of Calgary. “And this policy—what’s new is it takes a real, system-wide approach and recognizes that kids’ digital lives are really shaped not just by families, but by schools, by industry design choices and by public policy as well.” Madigan was the only Canadian researcher involved in drafting the new policy. She says tech companies need to play a larger role to help shape children’s development. “(That) includes things like turning off autoplay by default, limiting these algorithmic feeds to kids and removing a lot of targeted advertising that’s going toward young children,” said Madigan. The policy outlines a cascading series of risks as children age: Early childhood (0–5 years): High screen use during these ages is linked to delayed language skills, poor social development, disrupted sleep and a rise in “angry outbursts.” School-aged children (6–12 years): Longer screen time is leading to faster loss of attention, academic struggles and a higher risk of weight gain. Teenagers (13–18 years): For high school students, the concern is mental health, with increased rates of depression and anxiety. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry recommends that recreational screen time for children aged six to 15 be kept to less than two hours per day. Students at Calgary’s Lord Beaverbrook High School believe screen time for youth is a concern. “I think it’s a huge problem, to be honest. I wish I could cut down on my phone use, but there’s so much I can do on my phone,” said Trey Fowler. “I’m chronically on my phone. All the time. … Like, 10 hours, 15 hours a day.” Maryk Mozil agrees. “I’m on my phone so much. It’s definitely a problem. But like (Fowler) said, there’s a lot you can do on there, so it’s good but bad at the same time,” said Mozil.
