10th June 2026
New guidance to be issued on screen use for children aged 5–16
After previously releasing guidance for parents on screen time for under 5s, the UK Government is preparing its first official advice for parents on how children aged 5 to 16 should use screens in a healthy way. This is meant to help families who are worried about how phones, tablets, computers and social media may affect children’s sleep, learning, behaviour and general wellbeing.
Previous research has shown a clear need for support. While 96% of parents believe their child benefits from being online, fewer than 30% think the benefits outweigh the risks when it comes to social media, messaging and video-sharing platforms.
The Government says it wants to give parents simple, practical advice, so they can make the best choices for their own children, rather than banning screens or suggesting that all screen time is bad. Instead, the idea is to recognise that screens are now a normal part of life and can be useful for things like schoolwork, creativity, communication and support for some children with additional needs.
The Government also recognises that parents are dealing with challenges that previous generations did not face, and that they need clear and trusted advice. The guidance is expected to help parents think about questions such as when a child should get their first smartphone, how much time they spend on screens, and how to build healthy habits around social media and online activities.
The guidance on screen time for under 5s is split into two age groups, under 2 years and 2 to 5 years, reflecting the developmental changes that happen quickly in a child’s early years. There is also specific advice for children with special educational needs and disabilities. The guidance is available on the Best Start in Life website and includes a link to the full expert-led summary of evidence report.
Before writing the final guidance for the 5 – 16 age group, the Government is asking for evidence from experts and researchers. It wants to understand more about how screen use affects children’s health, development, behaviour, learning and wellbeing. It is also looking at whether the effects depend on a child’s age, what they are doing on the screen, and how often they are using it.
This evidence-gathering period will run for three weeks ending on 29 June 2026. This is done through a ‘Call for Evidence’ which can be viewed and responded to at Screen use by children aged 5-16: call for evidence. The finished guidance is expected to be published in the Autumn.
The Government is also looking more widely at how technology is used in schools. It wants parents and teachers to feel more confident that digital tools are being used safely and properly in education.
Overall, this new guidance is about helping families find a sensible balance. The Government accepts that screens are part of modern childhood, but it also wants to make sure children use them in a way that supports their health, learning and development.
While this is being carried out by the Department for Education in England the information will be relevant to parents and children all across the UK and may result in the NI Executive releasing further guidance which is specific to Northern Ireland.