UW-Madison Experts Urge Limits for Under-3s as Screen Time Quality Outweighs Quantity
Updated
Updated · The Capital Times · Aug 18
UW-Madison Experts Urge Limits for Under-3s as Screen Time Quality Outweighs Quantity
1 articles · Updated · The Capital Times · Aug 18
Summary
Three UW-Madison experts said parents should focus less on raw screen-time totals and more on content quality, while setting clear boundaries as children spend more time on devices and social media.
Under age 3, B. Bradford Brown said screen use should be little to none, while Roxy Etta recommended less than 1 hour a day for babies and higher-quality content.
The experts said screens can help children learn and connect with family or peers, but warned social media can distort self-image, expose kids to harmful material and worsen anxiety, depression or loneliness.
Parents' own device habits matter, Etta said, and Ross Dahlke urged ongoing conversations so children can judge what online experiences help them versus what harms sleep, play, exercise and in-person relationships.