Parents told to limit screen time to an hour a day and ban AI and social media in new guidelines for under-5s
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has promised an active "fight" with social media firms following the release of new official guidance recommending that parents restrict their own use and ban AI tools alongside limiting children under five to no more than one hour a day on screens.
Key Points
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1The UK Government has issued new guidance advising parents that their young children (under-five) spend less than an hour on screens daily.
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2Prime Minister Keir Starmer promised to 'fight' social media firms over addictive content affecting families in the digital age.
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3New advice specifically recommends avoiding screen time for under-twos except during shared activities, and banning AI usage entirely.
Developments
Keir Starmer has promised a "fight" against social media firms as new official guidance recommends that children under five spend no more than an hour daily on screen time, ideally avoiding it for those under two except during shared activities. The government is also consulting potential measures to limit or ban access to platforms like gaming sites and AI chatbots by users aged 16 and younger while introducing restrictions against addictive design features.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has promised "to fight" with major technology firms over their role in creating addictive content for children, while the government issued new advice recommending that parents limit two-to-five-year-olds' screen time to one hour daily or less. Additionally, officials are consulting on potential protections under 16 online and urging families to avoid fast-paced videos and AI tools during bedtimes and mealtimes.
New UK government guidelines advise parents to limit under-five-olds' daily screen time to one hour and exclude AI tools from their devices. Children should avoid screens during bedtimes or mealtimes unless engaging in shared interactive content, while those aged two must generally have no independent use except for interaction-based activities with adults present.
The UK Government advises parents of children under five to limit daily screen time to no more than one hour or avoid it entirely for those under two years old (except during shared interactive activities). The guidance also recommends keeping bedtimes and mealtimes free from screens while discouraging the use of fast-paced videos, AI tools, social media-style content.
The UK Prime Minister announced new advice limiting screen time for under-five-olds to one hour per day while avoiding fast-paced content during bedtimes. Additionally, social media use by children over two but under 16 may soon be restricted following a review of Australian measures aimed at protecting young users and supporting healthy family habits in the digital age.