BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) – The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has for years recommended screen time limits based on a child’s age, but its latest guidance warns that is not enough to prevent the harms from scrolling.
The change in guidance comes also with the understanding that digital media is everywhere, from TVs to smartphones, children are exposed to screens in school, at home, with friends, and are engaging with devices multiple times a day.
The AAP wants parents and guardians to focus on “quality, context, and conversation,” around screens, and bring children into the conversation to explain why excessive screen use is harmful, how algorithms are designed to keep users engaged, and model healthy digital habits.
While time limits are no longer AAP’s standard when it comes to screens, it still recommends children 18 months and younger have no screen time…