Key facts
- Over 150 clinicians urged the UK government to cut classroom screen time.
- Concerns include long-term impacts on physical and developmental health, particularly eye health.
- An analysis of 276 studies found a rise in short-sightedness among children globally.
- The government is consulting on new screen time guidance for ages five to 18.
A group of over 150 clinicians, including GPs and pediatricians, has urged the UK government to reduce the amount of time children spend on screens in classrooms, warning of potential long-term harm to their physical and developmental health. In an open letter to Education Secretary Lucy Powell and Health Secretary Yvette Cooper, specialists stated that tablets and laptops are being used without a full understanding of their health impacts, including on eye health.
The clinicians reported prescribing glasses, hearing aids, and speech therapy to children for issues they believe are exacerbated by excessive screen use in schools. They highlighted an analysis of 276 studies involving 5.4 million participants worldwide, which they claimed showed a rise in short-sightedness among children and adolescents from approximately 24% in 1990 to nearly 36% by 2023. This condition is associated with an increased risk of various eye health problems.
Dr. Becky Foljambe, an NHS GP and founder of Health Professionals for Safer Screens, one of the letter's signatories, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that parents have not been given the option to opt out of screen use in schools. She argued that the surge in short-sightedness cannot be solely attributed to genetics and dismissed the idea that extensive screen use is necessary preparation for a digital workforce, emphasizing the need for sleep, eyesight, rest, and critical thinking skills.
The letter also noted that children with special educational needs are disproportionately directed towards screen-based learning. A spokesperson for the Department for Education stated that the government is developing new screen time guidance for children aged five to 18 and will consult on the safety of artificial intelligence and educational technology in schools, adding that technology can be a powerful learning tool when used appropriately.