Sweden has issued a strong message to parents about the importance of limiting screen time for their children. The Public Health Agency, in new recommendations released on Monday, stated that children under the age of two should not be exposed to any digital media or television. Children between the ages of two and five should have a maximum of one hour of screen time per day, while those aged six to twelve should be limited to one or two hours. Teenagers aged thirteen to eighteen should spend no more than two to three hours daily in front of screens.
Public Health Minister Jakob Forssmed expressed concern about the widespread integration of smartphones and screens into children’s lives. He highlighted that Swedish teenagers between thirteen and sixteen years old spend an average of six and a half hours per day in front of screens outside of school hours. This, he stated, leaves little time for social activities, physical exercise, or adequate sleep. Forssmed also pointed to a “sleep crisis” in Sweden, noting that over half of fifteen-year-olds do not get enough sleep.
The health agency emphasized the importance of keeping screens out of bedrooms at night and refraining from using them before bed. They cited research demonstrating a link between excessive screen use and poor sleep, depression, and body dissatisfaction.
These recommendations come as the Swedish government explores a ban on smartphones in primary schools, further highlighting their commitment to safeguarding children from the potential harms of excessive screen time.
