Recent British studies demonstrate that digital device consumption by infants under the age of two yields minimal advantages and carries potential negative consequences. screen use among children under two offers negligible benefits and may be linked to a range of harms. Despite these clinical findings, almost two-thirds of babies and toddlers in Aotearoa New Zealand exceed recommended screen time, according to a public health expert briefing.
In Plain English: The Clinical Takeaway
- Developmental Displacement: For infants and toddlers under two years of age, digital screens replace face-to-face caregiver interactions, active play, and opportunities for exploration.
- Systemic Health Impacts: Medical literature connects early screen exposure to effects on bodyweight, sleep patterns, eye health and vision, alongside language learning, communication, problem-solving, and general developmental progress.
- Structural Influences: Managing infant screen time requires looking beyond individual parental choices to address commercial product design and the stressful, high-pressure environments modern families navigate.
Commercial Determinants of Health and Early Childhood Exposure
Analyzing current findings, contributors to the Public Health Expert Briefing suggest that tackling media exposure in very infants requires moving away from an exclusive focus on personal caregiver decisions. Instead, public health frameworks must confront the commercial and structural factors that shape children’s exposure to screens.
University of Auckland’s Dr. Samantha Marsh states that screen use can displace activities that are important for young children’s development. For children under two, that means screens are replacing the interactions and activities that support healthy development.
For children under two, that means screens are replacing the interactions and activities that support healthy development.
The major systematic review originating from the UK found substantial potential harms associated with screen use among children under two. The briefing notes that media consumption in this demographic correlates with consequences for sleep quality, weight status, vision and ocular health, as well as language acquisition, communication, problem-solving, and other developmental metrics.
Beyond Individual Parenting Choices
The writers contend that media engagement by tiny tots ought to be viewed as a commercial factor influencing health. Modern digital products are designed to keep people engaged, while the resulting costs can fall on children, whānau and health and education systems.
Digital products are designed to keep people engaged, while families are making decisions about screen use in the context of work, stress, limited social support and other pressures.
Dr. Marsh notes that public health responses must look beyond individual behavior and consider the environments in which families are raising young children.
Multi-Level Public Health Interventions and Policy Recommendations
To mitigate these risks, the briefing proposes action at multiple levels. Suggested measures feature judgment-free assistance for caregivers, media-free zones within early childhood education and medical spaces, enhanced childcare and parental leave regulations, alongside oversight of marketing practices and unproven educational claims directed at infants.
Furthermore, the authors call for Māori-led development and delivery of screen-time guidance.
| Domain of Potential Harm | Reported Clinical Impact | Developmental Stage |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep | Impacts on sleep | Under Two Years |
| Communication & Language | Communication, language acquisition | Under Two Years |
| Physical Development | Bodyweight | Under Two Years |
| Vision & Ocular Health | Vision and eye health | Under Two Years |
Scientists likewise encourage deeper investigation into the systemic variables influencing device habits among Pacific households, Māori whānau, and households facing heightened financial difficulties.
References
- Public Health Communication Centre Aotearoa. Expert Briefing: Screen use among under-twos needs action beyond parenting advice.
- University of Auckland. Public Health Expert Briefing commentary by Dr. Samantha Marsh.
