Europe tightens digital safety rules for children
The UK government has advised parents to restrict screen exposure for young children, recommending no screen use for those under two years old and limiting children aged two to five to a maximum of one hour per day. Officials say extended solo screen use may disrupt sleep and reduce time spent on physical play and social interaction.
The guidance comes amid broader global efforts to strengthen protections for children online. Countries including France, Denmark and the Netherlands are considering stricter age-verification systems and safety regulations due to concerns about mental health, cyberbullying and harmful content exposure. Indonesia has also introduced tighter controls, announcing that children under 16 will be banned from using Roblox after authorities labeled the platform high risk.
The UK’s recommendations, covering televisions, tablets, smartphones and laptops, represent the government’s clearest position so far on early childhood digital habits. Officials say many parents have struggled to manage screen use without clear direction. Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that families need practical guidance to cope with fast-changing technology and conflicting information.
Government figures indicate that 98% of two-year-olds in Britain use screens daily, while one in four parents of children aged three to five report difficulty limiting screen time. Experts advise avoiding screens during meals and before bedtime, selecting slow-paced, age-appropriate content and watching alongside children to support language and social development.
Specialists also caution against fast-moving, social-media-style videos and certain AI-powered toys that may overstimulate young users. However, assistive screen technologies for children with special educational needs are not subject to strict limits.
Authorities in the UK and across Europe are also examining wider safety measures for older children, including possible minimum age requirements for social media, overnight usage curfews and restrictions on AI chatbots. In the United States, a Los Angeles jury recently found Meta and Google negligent in a case involving alleged harm to a young user, a decision that could influence similar lawsuits and intensify scrutiny of technology companies.
