A New Zealand briefing says work pressures, stress and attention-grabbing digital products are driving screen exposure in early childhood, calling for policy changes alongside support for parents.
Screen time for children under the age of two offers little benefit and may carry a range of harms, according to a new briefing from the Public Health Communication Centre in New Zealand. The authors say the issue cannot be solved by telling parents to try harder alone, arguing that very young children’s exposure to screens is shaped by work pressures, stress, limited support and the design of digital products built to hold attention.
The briefing draws on recent UK research indicating that screens can crowd out the everyday experiences babies and toddlers need most, including face-to-face interaction, active play and exploration. That matters because early development depends heavily on relationships and repeated human contact. Cleveland Clinic says children learn language, social skills and cognitive abilities best through interaction with caregivers and the wider world, rather than through passive viewing.
The Public Health Communication Centre also argues that screen use in early childhood should be treated as a commercial determinant of health. The World Health Organization describes commercial determinants of health as the ways private companies shape people’s health through product design, marketing and lobbying. In this case, the briefing says, the concern is not only what families choose, but the way screens and apps are engineered to keep children engaged, even when that engagement displaces sleep, play and time with caregivers.
The authors call for a broader response that includes practical, non-judgemental support for parents, screen-free settings in early education and healthcare, stronger parental leave and childcare policies, and tighter rules around marketing and claims that digital products are educational for very young children. They also want Māori-led guidance and more research into how screen exposure is shaped for Māori whānau, Pacific families and households facing greater financial pressure. Their central message is that reducing screen use in infancy and toddlerhood will require changes well beyond parenting advice alone.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
