Babies spending four hours a day on screens provide new warning about childhood in digital age
Charity warns of an information ‘blind spot’ about the potential consequences of long periods of screen time on young children
Some years ago, a video of a young toddler looking at a picture in a magazine went ‘viral’ because the child repeatedly tried to use their fingers in an attempt to zoom in on one area of the image, not realising this is only possible on smartphones and the like. If this served as any kind of warning about childhood in the digital age, it went largely unheeded.
According to the World Health Organisation, children under one should not use screens at all and those aged between one and two should use them for no more than an hour a day.
However, Will Quince, chief executive of the 1001 Critical Days Foundation, speaking as a major expert study was launched into the effects of computer screens on the youngest children, said some babies were now “spending more than four hours a day in front of screens” and there was “blind spot” about the potential consequences.
As debate continues to rage over smartphones in the classroom, it’s time to pay much more attention to the risks faced by the very youngest.
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