Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Fourth Report - Screen time: impacts on education and wellbeing
Education Committee
HC 118
Published 25 May 2024
Recommendations
3
Acknowledged
Strengthen cross-departmental efforts to protect children from screen addiction and online harms.
Recommendation
For children and adolescents alike the rapid rise of the use of screens and devices has come at a substantial cost and Government needs to do more across departments to protect them from addiction, online harms and the mental health …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's concern, but highlights the existing uncertainty in research regarding screen time and mental health impacts, noting ongoing studies and a new longitudinal study to conclude in May 2025, and references existing mobile phone guidance.
Department for Education
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9
Acknowledged
Para 54
Parents lack confidence managing screen time and require Government guidance and support.
Recommendation
Parents are unsure of what their children are doing online, lack confidence in being able to manage screen time, and want guidance to support them. The Government is wrong to conflate arguments about setting an exact time limit on screen …
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Government Response Summary
The government refers to ongoing research, including a DSIT feasibility study until May 2025, to better understand the impact of smartphones and social media on children. It highlights the Online Safety Act's requirements for online services to assess and mitigate risks to children but does not commit to providing the specific parental guidance requested by the committee.
Department for Education
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11
Acknowledged
Para 56
Revise advice for parents on screen time risks and commission healthy device use guidance.
Recommendation
Advice to parents of babies and young children should be revised to ensure it gives sufficient attention to face to face interaction and warns of the risks of screen time in reducing opportunities for this. Adults should be encouraged to …
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Government Response Summary
The government gives a vague commitment, stating it will give further consideration to the recommendation for a consultation, while generally recognising the importance of protecting children's personal data and engaging safely with online services.
Department for Education
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Conclusions (2)
1
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 25
We are extremely concerned at the level of harmful content children and young people can be exposed to online, and how it can affect their mental health, physical health and educational outcomes. This is exacerbated for certain vulnerable groups who are more likely to be negatively affected and exposed to …
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's concern but states there is still uncertainty regarding the causal relationship between screen time and mental health. It highlights ongoing research, including a feasibility study by the University of Cambridge running until May 2025, to better understand the effects of social media and smartphones on children's developmental outcomes.
19
Conclusion
Acknowledged
Para 94
The Online Safety Act 2023 will undoubtably play a role in keeping children safe from online harms. However, we are concerned that children will not feel the full protections of the Act until implementation is completed in 2026.
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the committee's concern by reiterating its commitment to swift and effective implementation of the Online Safety Act, detailing timelines for enforcement of illegal content duties (Spring 2025) and child safety duties to be fully effective by Summer 2025.