“Over the last decade, the science of media has evolved, and simply taking devices away or enforcing rigid rules can backfire for parents,” Dr. Tiffany Munzer, a pediatric behavioral specialist at the University of Michigan Hospital, told ABC News. “We now understand there are specific design features of digital media — some that promote positive benefits, and others that are highly engagement-based that can overtake healthier activity."
While the guidelines don’t dismiss concerns about heavy screen use, they warn that enforcing time limits alone fails to address the influence of powerful platform designs built to drive engagement.
“Screen time alone doesn’t tell the whole story anymore,” Dr. Hansa Bhargava, a pediatrician and AAP spokesperson on social media use, told ABC News. “Today’s digital world isn’t just TV — it’s an immersive ecosystem designed to keep kids engaged as long as possible.”
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For example, low-quality digital use, including mindless scrolling, autoplay videos, frequent notifications and algorithms that push extreme or harmful material, can be highly stimulating but may lead to poor sleep, attention difficulties, academic challenges, and emotional regulation problems.
High-quality content, on the other hand, can enrich a developing mind, the report said, pointing out that some educational, creative, and social platforms avoid manipulative design features and prioritize privacy.
The new guidelines offer parents advice for effectively managing a child’s digital use, including being more selective about which sites to visit.
Ideally, a child can use a site with a caregiver, which can offer a window into how they think and feel, Munzer said.
Bhargava agreed, saying, “Watching a movie together and then talking about what you’re seeing, I don’t really think of as screen time -- It’s together time”
But the report and recommendations also called for technology companies and policymakers to do their part.
“Families have always carried the burden of managing screen time, but so much of this is out of their hands,” Munzer pointed out. “There are powerful systemic factors shaping children’s digital experiences — and that’s exactly why the responsibility has to be shared.”