UK study warns screen time harms children under two

A comprehensive review by researchers from four universities in the United Kingdom examined all available global studies on screen exposure for infants. The analysis found associations with a range of developmental concerns, including reduced parent‑child bonding, limited physical play, delayed language acquisition, increased hyper‑arousal, sleep disturbances, eye‑health issues and a higher risk of childhood obesity.

The authors state that no child under two years should be deliberately or regularly exposed to screens, and that passive exposure is already widespread enough to be harmful when intentional use is added. Lead researcher Reif Clayton, senior lecturer at Lund University, warned that parents often model screen habits unintentionally, passing unhealthy dependencies onto babies.

The study calls on the British government to revise current guidance, which currently advises avoiding screen time for children under two except for brief, socially interactive activities such as video calls, to prevent misinterpretation that limited screen use is safe or beneficial.