Alabama State Rep. Susan DuBose is advocating for House Bill 78, which seeks to limit screen time for children from birth through kindergarten in early schooling or daycare settings. DuBose emphasized the growing concern over excessive screen exposure, stating, “We are getting more and more data and we just cannot deny that excessive screen exposure to children, especially under the age of three and even five, is associated with delayed communication skills, impaired problem solving, and reduced social interaction.”
The bill proposes that children under two years old should have no screen time except for video calls with family, aligning with national pediatric recommendations. For children aged two to four, screen time would be limited to 30 minutes per day and 90 minutes per week, with requirements for group-based, interactive, and adult-supervised use.
Mark McColl from Birmingham expressed mixed feelings, acknowledging the negative social effects of screen time but recognizing its educational potential. “It’s a tough question as far as limiting screen time,” he said. However, he noted, “Limiting screen time for preschoolers at daycare centers etc. I think is a very probably good thing.”…