On Monday, Sweden advised parents against allowing toddlers to watch screens at all. The country's Public Health Agency emphasized that children under two should be completely shielded from digital media and television. For children aged two to five, the agency recommended limiting screen time to a maximum of one hour per day. Those aged six to 12 should restrict their screen time to no more than one or two hours daily. Teenagers between 13 and 18 should limit their screen usage to two to three hours per day, according to the new guidelines.
Public Health Minister Jakob Forssmed expressed concern over the pervasive influence of smartphones and other screens in children's lives. He highlighted that Swedish teens aged 13 to 16 spend an average of six and a half hours daily on screens outside of school hours. Forssmed pointed out that this leaves little time for communal activities, physical exercise, or sufficient sleep, and he lamented the ongoing 'sleep crisis' in Sweden, noting that over half of 15-year-olds do not get enough sleep.
The health agency also advised against screen use before bedtime and recommended keeping phones and tablets out of bedrooms at night. They cited research linking excessive screen use to issues such as poor sleep, depression, and body dissatisfaction. Sweden's government has previously considered implementing a ban on smartphones in primary schools.
