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2026-07-27 11:45 UTC → 2026-07-29 05:17 UTC ·
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Global research keeps Research continues linking heavy digital‑device use to mental, developmental and physiological problems, prompting tighter rules and guidance. guidance worldwide. Germany proposes a minimum age of 13 for personal social‑media accounts; Chile and Brazil have extended school bans to cover about 92 % of schools; debates continue in Thailand, the United Kingdom and elsewhere about stricter limits for younger children. Health authorities in Brazil and Spain have warned that excessive screen exposure fuels anxiety, sleep disorders and impaired social development, urging families to set firm limits and postpone first smartphone ownership. Experts in the United Kingdom still advise against regular screen exposure for children under two, citing risks to language development and caregiver bonding. A July 2026 U.S. study described a “digital dementia” syndrome, and the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos warned that early, excessive screen exposure can cause lasting neurocognitive delays. delays affecting attention, memory and language. Her office issued a “5 Ds” framework – Discuss, Do, Divert, Disconnect and a fifth, fifth D – to help families set clear rules, model healthy habits, encourage hands‑on activities and create regular screen‑free periods. The same week, the European Academy of Paediatrics and the European Confederation of Primary Care Paediatricians released updated guidelines: no screen time for children under two (except brief video calls), up to one hour per day for ages three to five, and less than two hours per day after five, ideally with adult supervision. The paper warns that unregulated exposure can impair cognitive, emotional, social and physical development, disrupt sleep and increase device dependency. position paper, based on recent Acta Paediatrica research, follows France’s new law banning social‑network access for minors under 15, underscoring growing European policy focus on digital wellbeing. Across all regions, recommendations echo earlier guidance: cap screen time, use digital‑wellbeing tools, mute non‑essential notifications, schedule screen‑free periods, and promote physical activity, social contact and cognitively stimulating offline hobbies.