𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Keir Starmer has warned parents of young children not to let them spend too long staring at a screen. He published advice for mums and dads with children under five – telling them how long youngsters should spend with a phone or tablet. It’s the first time the Government has published this type of official guidance.

Children between two and five years old should not be in front of a screen for more than one hour a day. They should avoid screens entirely at mealtimes and in the hour before bed, the advice said. And youngsters under two should not go on screens “other than for shared activities that encourage bonding, interaction and conversation”.

The Prime Minister defended himself against suggestions the Government is imposing a “nanny state” as he insisted: “Parenting in a digital world can feel relentless. Screens are everywhere, and the advice is often conflicting. My government will not leave parents to face this battle alone.”

Sir Keir said: “Our new guidance cuts through the noise with clear, common‑sense tips to keep children safe and make sure healthy habits are baked in from the start.”

He admitted: “There will be some who will oppose us doing this.” But he said: “Whether it’s navigating technology, tackling the cost of living or balancing the demands of family life, I will always stand on the side of parents doing their best for their children.”

The Department for Education said the “evidence-backed” advice has been developed with Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza and experts to help navigate challenges of raising children in the digital world.

It urged parents to choose “slow-paced, age-appropriate content.”

The advice warned: “Fast-paced, social media-style videos and AI toys or tools should be avoided for young children.

“Watching or using screens together – talking, asking questions, and engaging with the content – is better for children’s development than solo screen use.”

It comes days after parents and campaign groups seeking tighter restrictions on social media welcomed a Los Angeles jury handing down an unprecedented win for a young woman who sued Meta and YouTube over her childhood addiction to social media.

Dame Rachel said: “Children are growing up in a world where screens are everywhere. Parents tell me they want clear, non-judgemental information about why limiting screen use is important, given in a way that reflects the realities of their daily lives.”

She added: “Young children need their parents to be confident in managing their screen use, but often this can be overwhelming for parents learning to navigate this. My hope is that this guidance helps to cut through the conflicting advice available and prioritise children’s development and wellbeing, as well as their safety.”

Social media bans, digital curfews and time limits on apps are to be trialled in the homes of hundreds of UK teenagers.

The test, led by the UK government, will see 300 teens have their social apps disabled entirely, blocked overnight or capped to one hour’s use – with some also seeing no such changes at all – in order to compare their experiences.

It will run alongside the government’s consultation asking whether the UK should follow in Australia’s footsteps by making it illegal for under-16s to have access to many social media sites.