Sweden’s Public Health Agency has announced that toddlers should be completely kept away from screens, including television and digital media.

In new recommendations released on September 2, 2024, the agency stated that children under the age of two should not be exposed to any screen time at all.

For kids aged two to five, screen time should be limited to a maximum of one hour per day, the recommendations said.

Furthermore, children aged six to twelve should spend no more than one to two hours in front of screens daily, while teenagers aged thirteen to eighteen should be limited to two to three hours.

Public Health Minister Jakob Forssmed highlighted the concern over excessive screen time, noting that Swedish teens aged thirteen to sixteen spend an average of six and a half hours per day on screens outside of school hours.

This excessive screen time, according to Forssmed, leaves inadequate time for communal activities, physical exercise, and sufficient sleep, contributing to a “sleep crisis” in Sweden, where more than half of fifteen-year-olds do not get enough rest.

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The health agency also advised that screens should not be used before bedtime and that phones and tablets should be kept out of bedrooms at night.

Research cited by the agency indicates that excessive screen use can lead to poor sleep, depression, and body dissatisfaction. In addition, the Swedish government is considering a ban on smartphones in primary schools to further address these concerns.