Screen Time Recommendations by Age (2026): Surgeon General, AAP, WHO and Canada

Why the recommendations disagree

The Surgeon General’s advisory and the AAP read largely the same evidence and reached different conclusions about how to use it. The advisory, released in May 2026, sets simple daily numbers parents can follow. The AAP’s 2026 policy statement, “Digital Ecosystems, Children, and Adolescents,” argues that what children do on screens, and what screen time replaces, matters more than the minute count. It recommends a Family Media Plan and calls for changes from tech companies and policymakers, not only parents.

The two agree on the basics: very little or no screen time for babies, screen-free bedrooms and meals, and protecting sleep and physical activity.

What the evidence says

• Stronger links: a 2019 review of reviews in BMJ Open found moderately strong evidence linking more screen time in children and teens with higher body weight and depressive symptoms, moderate evidence for poorer diet and quality of life, and weaker evidence for sleep, behavior and anxiety.
• How kids use screens matters more than how long. In a study of more than 4,000 children in the US ABCD Study, published in JAMA in 2025, those with high or rising addictive use of phones or social media had 2 to 3 times the risk of suicidal behaviors. Total screen time on its own was not linked to higher risk.
• Limits of the research: most studies are observational and rely on self-reported screen time, so they can’t prove screens cause these problems. Small amounts of use, educational content and watching together with a parent are linked to neutral or better outcomes for young children.

Practical tips from pediatricians

• Screen-free zones and times: bedrooms, meals, and the hour before bed.
• Protect sleep: keep devices out of bedrooms overnight.
• Choose content carefully: favor shows and apps made for children, without ads or endless reward loops.
• Share devices with younger kids: a family tablet is easier to supervise than a personal one.
• First phone: the AAP says no specific age has been shown to be safe; consider whether your child is ready instead.
• Model it: put your own phone down at meals and bedtime.
• Warning signs of problematic use: getting very upset when screens stop, hiding what they do online, and trying but failing to cut back.

If you’re worried about a child or teen’s mental health, talk to their doctor. In the US, you can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at any time.

For adults: your own screen time

Children copy what they see. Canada’s guideline for adults is no more than 3 hours a day of recreational screen time. Our guide How much screen time is too much for adults? covers what the research says.

ScreenWorth is for adults managing their own habits, not a parental-control app. It gives the apps that pull you in a daily allowance. When it runs out, you can walk away for free or pay a small amount you set in advance for 15 more minutes. Free to download. Free to walk away. You only pay if you decide extra time is worth it. For children’s devices, use Apple’s built-in Screen Time with Family Sharing.