ScreenTime Starts Earlier than we think – And So Does Our Responsibility
This week has brought two significant developments that shine a spotlight on the growing impact of screens and social media on young people.
In the UK, new government guidance on screen time for under-5s has been published – offering evidence-based advice for parents navigating early childhood in a digital world. At the same time, a landmark court ruling in the United States has added further weight to the global debate, holding tech companies increasingly accountable for the role their platforms may play in harm to young people.
Taken together, these moments feel really important. Not because they give us all the answers – but because they underline something many parents, professionals and young people already sense: this is an issue we can no longer ignore.
Screens are everywhere. They’re convenient, engaging, and – at times – a lifeline for busy families. But as the evidence continues to build, so too does our understanding that early and excessive screen use can have real consequences. From speech and language development to sleep, attention, and emotional regulation – the early years matter.
At Youth Talk, we’re currently developing our organisational view on smartphones and social media – not to reinvent the wheel, but to learn from the growing evidence and amplify what we, alongside young people, believe is a helpful and proportionate position to adopt. And we’re already super proud to support and act as an ambassador for Unplugged Early Years, whose important work closely aligns with our focus on early intervention, awareness, and giving children the best possible start.
What we see every day is this: by the time young people reach their teenage years, many of the habits, expectations and dependencies around screens are already deeply embedded. Which brings us to something we don’t talk about enough. It’s not just about children – it’s about all of us.
Young children don’t learn how to use the world – they learn how to use it by watching the adults around them.
If a child sees a parent constantly checking their phone, scrolling at the dinner table, or distracted mid-conversation, that becomes normal. Not because anyone intends it – but because behaviour is modelled long before it’s taught.
And that’s the uncomfortable truth in all of this – it’s something so many of us are guilty of. We can set limits. We can follow guidance. But if our own relationship with screens is unbalanced, it becomes much harder to expect something different from our children.
This isn’t about blame – it’s about awareness. Small changes make a big difference
The good news is that change doesn’t have to be dramatic.
It might be:
- putting phones away during meals
- creating screen-free time before bed
- being fully present, even for short moments – ensuring children are growing up in the real world not the digital one
- choosing connection over convenience where we can
These are small shifts – but they send powerful messages.
A shared responsibility.
There’s no single solution to this. It’s not just about parents, schools, or government guidance. It’s about all of us – as families, communities, and society – recognising that the digital world is shaping childhood in ways we’re only just beginning to understand.
At Youth Talk, we’ll continue to listen, learn, and contribute to this conversation – always with one focus in mind: helping young people grow up with the strongest possible foundations for their mental health and wellbeing.
Because how we shape early habits today will echo long into the future.
David Barker
Chief Executive
Trekking Kilimanjaro for Youth Talk
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