New Guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics’ on Kids’ Smartphone Safety Focuses on Intentional Parenting.
What Is the AAP’s New Approach to Kids and Technology?
Instead of telling your kids to avoid screens or monitoring screen time, teach your kids how to have a healthy relationship with technology. Focus on building a foundation of open communication, digital safety, and healthy screen habits.
Key Facts:
-
Rather than just using technology, kids grow up inside it.
-
The American Academy of Pediatrics no longer recommends focusing only on screen time.
-
Kids are growing up inside a digital environment
-
The quality of content matters as much as the amount of time spent on screens
-
Poorly designed media can negatively impact sleep, attention, and mental health.
-
Parents should focus on guiding habits and helping kids build a healthy relationship with technology.
If you’ve ever worried about how much screen time your kids are getting, or felt guilty about handing one over to give yourself a break—you’re not alone. Digital devices are a big part of everyday lives, and avoiding them is nearly impossible.
A U.K. government-backed study of nearly 5,000 children found that 98% of two-year-olds watch screens daily. The kids that use around five hours of daily screen time had significantly smaller vocabularies than those with under an hour of use. U.S. research has similarly found that higher screen time in young children is linked to weaker language and cognitive development.
No wonder many parents have sought advice on how much screen time is too much for their kids. With this research in mind, it was surprising when the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a new report that says “screen time” should no longer be the primary focus for parents.
The AAP is now recommending a much more complicated approach. Rather than telling parents to police screen time, the guidance is focused on intentional parenting and teaching kids healthy technology habits.
Why Did the American Academy of Pediatrics Change Its Screen Time Guidance?
In the modern world, kids live inside a complex “digital ecosystem.” Rather than just using technology, kids grow up inside of it. Put simply, technology has evolved beyond being merely a tool. It now forms a pervasive environment in which children are raised.
To help parents address this reality, the AAP has developed a much more comprehensive—and, admittedly, less straightforward—set of recommendations. Let’s dive into the new guidelines and see what they mean for parents.
What Should Parents Focus on Instead of Screen Time?
The AAP says rather than just considering how long kids are on devices, parents need to focus on what type of content their kids are consuming. Parents should ask if the content is educational, creative, or passive?
Why does this matter? Because high-quality digital experiences can support learning, but low-quality content, which is designed for endless engagement, can negatively impact healthy development. Asking these questions also helps parents make intentional decisions about their family's technology use.
The design of the digital media also matters. Poorly designed media has a negative impact on behavior and wellbeing. It can disrupt sleep, make concentrating difficult, increase anxiety, cause emotional distress, and reduce physical activity. It might also cause children to spend more time online and less time with family and friends.
“When digital media are designed with children's wellbeing as the north star, young people can experience benefits, such as learning and social connection.” Lead policy author, Tiffany Munzer, MD, FAAP, and member of the AAP Council on Communications and Media.
Read the report, Digital Ecosystems, Children, and Adolescents, to see all the guidelines.
Who Is Responsible for Kids’ Digital Health?
The truth is, families cannot address the negative impact of unhealthy technology alone. Technology companies, policymakers, educators, pediatricians, and communities must also take responsibility for the attention economy. Concrete action needs to be taken on all sides in order for families to succeed.
The AAP report shows platform design shapes behavior. Tech companies must act now and redesign products to prioritize children’s well-being. They must implement child-centered design, add privacy protections, and restrict targeted advertising to kids. Parents also need more transparency around algorithms and recommendations.
What Can Parents Do About Their Kids’ Digital Health Now?
While systemic changes will take time, there are several practical strategies to help families make healthy changes today.
1. Create a Family Media Plan
Set clear expectations about when and how devices are used, including guidelines for bedtime, homework time, family meals, and screen-free zones.
2. Focus on Quality Over Quantity
Choose content that builds learning, creativity, and connection. Avoid apps with constant notifications and endless scrolling.
3. Stay Involved in Your Child’s Digital Life
Watch content together, talk about what you see online, and help your child build digital literacy. Engage in open communication, and teach your children digital safety and healthy screen habits.
The earlier you start teaching these things, the better.
4. Protect Time for Real-World Experiences
Encourage non-screen activities such as outdoor play, sports, reading, hobbies, and in-person friendships.
5. Consider the 5 C’s of Media Use
Remember the five Cs: child, content, calm, crowding out, and communication.
6. Teach Healthy Technology Habits
Use this resource to help you create an environment for healthy technology in your home.
A New Way to Think About Kids and Technology
The main takeaway of the AAP report is to design and use tech that helps kids thrive. Digital tools built only to grab attention can harm healthy development, but well-designed tools can empower learning and connection.
When evaluating the technology your kid uses, ask yourself if it is designed to help kids live more fully and thrive in the real world. Discuss how technology can enhance your child's real-life experiences, and revisit the conversation regularly. The point is to make mindful decisions and build positive technology habits together.
Bottom Line For Parents
Not all technology is harmful to children. Parents need to monitor the content that their children consume and teach them how to develop healthy technology habits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Why did the American Academy of Pediatrics change their guidelines for parents?
Answer: The digital ecosystem that kids live in today is too complicated for parents to focus on screen time alone. They must now consider the quality of the digital content their kids consume rather than just focusing on the quantity.
Question: Who are the new guidelines aimed at?
Answer: The guidelines are designed to help parents and care givers of young children, especially those in the early years before starting school.
Question: Does the AAP recommend parents ban screens?
Answer: No. The aim is not to ban screen time, but to offer realistic, practical tips for using screens in a balanced and supportive way alongside play, reading, and talking.
Question: Why does the design of the technology matter?
Answer: Poorly designed media has a negative impact on behavior and wellbeing.
Question: Is all technology harmful for children?
Answer: No. High-quality digital content can support learning and connection.
Question: Why is this guidance being introduced now?
Answer: Research shows that 98% of two-year-olds watch screens daily. And, children with the highest screen use tend to have weaker language skills. Many parents have also asked for more help managing screen time.
