Desk News: The Swedish government has issued a directive prohibiting children under the age of two from being exposed to television and smartphone screens. The country’s public health authority confirmed this decision in a statement released on Monday.

According to the new guidelines, children under two years old should be completely kept away from screens, including televisions, smartphones, and other electronic gadgets. For children aged 2 to 5 years, screen time should be limited to a maximum of one hour per day. Children aged 6 to 12 are allowed a maximum of two hours of screen time daily, while teenagers aged 13 to 18 can spend up to three hours a day on electronic devices.

The statement from the Swedish public health authority highlighted a recent study that found that half of the children and adolescents in Sweden aged 1 to 15 suffer from sleep deprivation. The study noted that children and teens are not getting the amount of sleep they need, leading to various physical and mental health issues.

“The primary cause of this problem is excessive addiction to electronic gadgets like televisions and smartphones. Therefore, we have issued this directive with the highest priority on the health of children and adolescents,” the statement said.

The health authority also advised parents to discourage children and teenagers from using screens before bedtime and to keep smartphones out of the bedroom at night.

Swedish health officials are also considering imposing a ban on smartphone use in primary schools. They plan to issue related orders soon as part of their efforts to safeguard children’s well-being.

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