Governments Rethink Children's Screen Time: New Restrictions on Digital Devices

Doctors, policymakers, and education authorities in several countries are intensifying efforts to restrict children’s exposure to smartphones, social media, and digital devices, citing mounting medical evidence that excessive screen time is affecting physical health, mental well-being, brain development, and learning outcomes. The push reflects a broader reassessment of technology’s role in childhood that is increasingly shaping education policy, public health priorities, and long-term workforce considerations. In the United Kingdom, senior medical leaders warn that unrestricted access to digital devices and online content is contributing to what they describe as a growing public health risk. The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, which represents 23 medical royal colleges and faculties, says frontline clinicians across the National Health Service are reporting severe cases linked to technology use among children and young people, spanning physical, mental and developmental conditions. “Without doubt, we are seeing the beginning of a public health emergency with our own eyes,” says Jeanette Dickson, Chair, Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, to The Sunday Times, adding that clinicians are encountering children who appear “imprisoned in a digital bubble.” The academy has launched a three-month evidence-gathering initiative to document health issues that may be associated with excessive screen exposure and harmful online content. The group plans to issue guidance to healthcare professionals on how to identify and manage technology-related harm and has formally raised the issue with the UK’s health, science and technology leadership. The effort comes as the government prepares to consult on potential restrictions on social media use for those under 16, with options under consideration ranging from tighter algorithm controls to time limits or broader access restrictions. The medical warnings are part of a widening international debate that is translating into concrete policy proposals, particularly in education systems. In Mexico, federal lawmakers and state education authorities are reviewing measures to curb cellphone use in classrooms, citing concerns about academic performance, emotional well-being, and child protection. A proposal introduced in the Chamber of Deputies seeks to amend the General Education Law to prohibit the use of mobile phones and similar devices during class hours in basic education, with exceptions for pedagogical use and documented health or disability needs. Supporters of the initiative argue that the goal is not to eliminate technology from schools but to regulate its use during instructional time. The proposal instructs education authorities to issue clear guidelines defining the scope of the ban, outlining storage and power-off procedures, and ensuring communication channels between schools and families remain open. The lawmaker behind the bill cited data from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization indicating that excessive mobile device use in classrooms can reduce concentration and lower information retention by up to 20%. Mexico’s policy debate is also being shaped by action at the state level. Authorities in Aguascalientes planned to enforce a protocol that began in October 2025 that required students in basic and upper-secondary education to surrender their phones during class hours. Devices would be securely stored and returned in emergencies, while limited use would be allowed during breaks or outside classrooms. Education officials say the protocol was developed through consultations with parents, teachers, and administrators and applies to both public and private schools. Similar measures have already been implemented in Queretaro, while other states are evaluating restrictions. The Mexican initiatives align with international recommendations. UNESCO has encouraged restrictions on cellphone use in classrooms to reduce distractions, while the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that excessive screen time in children can be linked to behavioral problems, sleep disturbances, depression and cognitive impairment. According to Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI), over 81% of Mexicans aged six and older used a cellphone in 2023, underscoring the scale of exposure. Beyond education policy, a growing body of scientific research is providing more detailed insight into how early screen exposure may affect brain development and long-term mental health. A recent longitudinal study from Singapore, published by eBioMedicine, examined the relationship between infant screen time, brain network development, decision-making behavior, and anxiety symptoms later in life. Researchers analyzed data from 168 children who had screen exposure measured at ages one and two, underwent repeated brain imaging between ages 4.5 and 7.5, completed decision-making assessments in mid-childhood, and were evaluated for anxiety symptoms in adolescence. The study found that higher levels of screen time in infancy were associated with accelerated changes in the integration of visual and cognitive control brain networks during early childhood. These neural changes were linked to slower decision-making later on, which in turn was associated with higher anxiety symptoms by age 13. Researchers concluded that early screen exposure may influence neurodevelopmental pathways during critical periods of brain growth, with lasting behavioral and mental health implications. The findings add to earlier research suggesting that screen use in childhood can affect white matter development and neural pathways involved in language, reading, and sensory processing. While many previous studies relied on cross-sectional data, the Singapore research used longitudinal neuroimaging, allowing researchers to track developmental trajectories over time. The authors noted that infancy is a particularly sensitive period, as brain volume and network organization undergo rapid change in the first two years of life. The growing scientific consensus is shaping public health messaging. In the United States, a 2023 advisory from then–Surgeon General Vivek Murthy warned of potential risks associated with youth social media use and urged families to take precautionary steps to limit exposure and protect sleep and mental health. Similar advisories have been published in Singapore and other countries. At the same time, several governments have moved to impose or consider restrictions on children’s access to social media platforms, following Australia’s decision to ban under-16s from holding social media accounts and similar discussions underway in the European Union and parts of Asia. Not all stakeholders support blanket bans, highlights SkyNews. Child protection charities and online safety organizations have warned that outright prohibitions could have unintended consequences, potentially driving teenagers toward unregulated online spaces or removing digital communities that provide social support. Advocacy groups argue that stronger enforcement of existing online safety laws and greater accountability for technology companies would be more effective than age-based bans alone. They have called for regulators to focus on algorithm design, content moderation, and platform responsibility. The debate over children’s screen use is also intersecting with broader concerns about mental health and engagement in the workforce, reinforcing the argument that early exposure to constant digital stimulation may have long-term economic and social implications. The WHO has classified burnout as an occupational phenomenon linked to chronic workplace stress, while global workforce surveys show persistently low engagement levels, cites independent contributor Cristobal Thompson. Gallup’s State of the Global Workforce 2025 report found that only 21% of employees worldwide consider themselves engaged at work, with the majority describing themselves as disengaged or actively disengaged. The World Economic Forum (WEF) has described the situation as a workplace well-being crisis, reporting that nearly 60% of employees feel emotionally disconnected from their work. In its analysis, the forum estimated that improving worker well-being could add up to US$11.7 trillion to the global economy. Stress levels, which reached record highs during the COVID-19 pandemic, have remained elevated, according to Gallup data. These workforce trends are influencing how companies and policymakers think about leadership, resilience and human development in an increasingly digital environment. The WEF’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 projects that nearly 40% of core job skills will change by 2030, with rising demand not only for technological literacy and data skills, but also for resilience, self-awareness, empathy and social influence. This adds to the statement that the same digital tools transforming education and work can also intensify cognitive overload, attention fragmentation, and emotional fatigue. In response, some organizations are investing in coaching and data-driven development tools that combine human judgment with AI to better understand stress, engagement and leadership behavior. Proponents say such approaches can help detect early signs of burnout, measure the effectiveness of development programs and design healthier work environments before problems escalate. While these tools are aimed at adults, supporters argue that they underscore a broader lesson: unmanaged digital exposure can strain cognitive and emotional systems at any stage of life. For policymakers, educators, and business leaders, the convergence of medical warnings, education policy initiatives, and longitudinal research is reframing the discussion around technology. Rather than focusing solely on access or innovation, governments are increasingly weighing how digital tools interact with human developmental limits, particularly during early childhood and adolescence. As more countries consider restrictions on children’s screen use and schools adjust classroom policies, the debate is shifting from whether limits are needed to how they can be implemented without undermining learning, social connection, or long-term productivity. The evidence now shaping these decisions suggests that the costs of inaction may extend beyond childhood health outcomes. With early brain development, mental health, and future workforce readiness increasingly seen as interconnected, the question facing regulators and employers alike is how to integrate technology in ways that support, rather than erode, human capacity over the long term.