A new study from Common Sense Media has found that a significant number of children as young as 2 years old are accessing digital media on a daily basis.
Despite polling in recent years in which parents have expressed concerns about their teens’ screentime and how it affects their mental health and education, The Common Sense Census: Media Use by Kids Age Zero to Eight, finds that 40 percent of children have a tablet by age 2, and their screen time hovers at about two and a half hours per day.
The report also detailed a shift in how screen time is being used. For example, time spent gaming has climbed 65 percent since 2020, and while traditional TV viewing has declined, time spent on short-form video platforms such as TikTok and YouTube Shorts are on the rise.
The Mayo Clinic recommends no more than one hour a day of high-quality programming with music, movement and stories for children ages 2-5. Too much screen time and regular exposure to poor-quality programming has been linked to issues including delays in language and development of social skills, attention and behavior problems, childhood obesity, disrupted sleep patterns and more.
“Parents are sharing their concerns about the rapidly changing media landscape and how it affects their young children’s development,” said Jill Murphy, chief content officer with Common Sense Media. “While technology keeps evolving, what children need hasn’t changed. Parents can take practical steps: be actively involved in what your little ones are watching, choose content you can enjoy together, and connect screen time to real-world experiences, like acting out stories or discussing characters’ feelings. Set clear boundaries around device use, establish tech-free times for meals and bedtime, and remember that media should be just one of many tools for nurturing your child’s natural curiosity.”
Findings from the report show that by age 4, 58 percent of children have their own tablet; and by age 8, one in four children have their own cellphone. Overall, 51 percent of children age 8 and younger have their own mobile device including a tablet and/or cellphone.
Additionally, about 20 percent of children use mobile devices for emotional regulation, mealtimes or to fall asleep. Meanwhile, children from lower-income households are spending nearly twice as much time with screens compared to those from higher-income households (close to four hours versus nearly two hours respectively).
Nearly one-third of parents report their child has used artificial intelligence for school-related learning.
Researchers noted a concerning gap in how parents monitor different platforms, and how their concerns about screen media affect viewing habits. Despite issues related to its rapid-fire and algorithm-driven nature, only 17 percent of parents reported co-viewing or supervising TikTok content compared to 62 percent of parents who reported occasionally watching YouTube alongside their children.
About 75 percent of parents surveyed express concerns about screen media, including excessive use and effects on mental health, while the same number reported being excited about their children learning new things through digital media.
