Key Summary
- The government is planning to release guidance on screen use for children.
- They are carrying out a three-week call for evidence.
- A poll found that 96 per cent of parents believe their child benefits from being online in some capacity.
The government has launched a three-week call for evidence to shape its first-ever official guidance on screen use for children aged 5 to 16.
From scrolling and social media to sleep disruption, the new framework aims to offer practical support to families facing modern digital challenges that previous generations never had to navigate.
The guidance will be informed by an independent expert group co-chaired by Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza and Professor Russell Viner.
Officials have stated the advice will avoid rigid blanket rules, focusing instead on helping families make informed, balanced choices.
Education secretary Bridget Phillipson emphasised that the goal is not to eliminate technology entirely: “Some will argue the answer is to turn back the clock and return to a world of only pens and paper. I disagree. Used well, technology can open up opportunities for children with SEND, personalise support and help more children succeed.
“We want every child to benefit from technology’s opportunities without sacrificing the things that matter most - their learning, their wellbeing and their childhood.”
The initiative builds on existing government interventions, including the Online Safety Act, legal requirements for phone-free classrooms and recent guidelines targeting the under-five demographic.
Public polling shows a massive appetite for this support: 86 per cent of parents support the existing guidance for under-fives, and 82 per cent report it is already helping them build healthier habits.
The need for this initiative was highlighted when it was found that 96 per cent of parents believe their child benefits from being online in some capacity.
And fewer than three in ten think the benefits actually outweigh the risks when it comes to social media, messaging and video-sharing platforms.
