These reviews demonstrated that high levels of screen time, now typical among children, are associated with potential harm. And they showed clearly that less recreational screen time is better for avoiding obesity, and promoting sleep, fitness, and cognitive, social and emotional development.
In the past three years the evidence reviews generated authoritative guidelines nationally in Australia, Canada, South Africa, the UK and internationally.
We were all involved in the development of global guidelines for zero to 4-year-olds for the World Health Organisation (WHO). These guidelines all recommended that recreational screen time should be limited in infancy, childhood and adolescence.
Limiting screen time
Guidelines from Canada, Australia and South Africa recommend that recreational screen time should be avoided in the under-2s, limited to an hour a day in 2 to 4-year-olds, and to two hours a day in 5 to 17-year-olds.
Based on our collective experience in developing these guidelines it's clear these limits are needed for several reasons.
First, the evidence suggests strongly that limits are required. The recommendations to limit screen time were based on a rigorous, widely accepted, and evidence-based approach. This included systematic reviews, critical appraisals of the evidence, national and international consultation and review, and transparent reporting.
Second, less recreational screen time is clearly better. There is evidence in support of the specific time limits recommended and our wide consultation with stakeholder individuals and organisations — including parents and families — suggests they find time limits helpful.
Third, our recommendations that recreational screen time should be limited are consistent with other recent and thorough reviews of the evidence conducted by authoritative bodies such as the WHO and the World Cancer Research Fund. These reviews highlighted the important role of recreational screen time in the development of obesity, many cancers and myopia.
Our specific recommendations are also consistent with those made by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Paediatric Society.
Taking a laissez-faire approach to screen time would be to ignore the wider context. This is that modern childhoods are characterised by low physical activity, excessive sitting and time indoors. Children and adolescents also suffer from poor motor skills, high levels of myopia, increased risk of type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
Still time to act
Some argue that the "genie is out of the bottle" with screen time. This is defeatist. The same arguments could have been made in relation to control of tobacco, alcohol and sugar but it is now accepted that unlimited exposure to these substances isn't good for health. Constraints are seen as essential.
In addition, in many parts of the world the genie may not yet be out of the bottle. In many low and middle-income countries exposure, to recreational screen time may still be relatively low for children.
There is also scope to prevent excessive screen time in babies and young children, acting before adverse, or at least sub-optimal, lifestyle habits become established.
Screen-time harm can be indirect as well as direct — recreational screen time increases with age and as it does it displaces more beneficial forms of sedentary behaviours such as reading. Screen time also displaces physically active play, and sleep.
Even from infancy and early childhood, we should all be concerned about the potential for harm stemming from screen time — at least until new, robust evidence demonstrates no harm.
The most prudent approach would be caution, trying to follow recent evidence-based guidance that recreational screen time should be restricted.
John Reilly is professor of physical activity and public health science, University of Strathclyde; Anthony Okely is professor of physical development, University of Wollongong; Catherine Draper is senior researcher, University of the Witwatersrand; Mark Tremblay is professor of pediatrics in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa
- The Conversation
