Screen time guidelines for kids and adolescents have shifted as research paints a more nuanced picture

What kids are doing on tablets seems to matter more than how long they use them. PeopleImages/iStock via Getty Images Concerns surrounding young people’s screen time are widespread. Australia became the first country to ban social media for users under 16 in December 2025, and Denmark, France and the U.K. have since announced similar restrictions to begin this year. In the U.S., as of mid-2026, more than 30 states have passed laws banning or restricting cellphones in K–12 classrooms; in 2023,…