Guidance for Counseling Families on Children's Digital Media Use

Two American Academy of Pediatrics policy statements on digital media use by children and adolescents outline current evidence of benefits and harms and offer recommendations to pediatricians and families.

Children's frequent use of digital media, including phones, tablets, television, and computers, has raised concerns about possible negative health and developmental effects. Potential benefits of screen use also have been identified. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released evidence-based recommendations for media use in young (0–5 years) and older (5–18 years) children.

Selected recommendations:

Young Children

For children younger than 18 months, discourage use of screen media, except for video chatting.
For children 18–24 months whose parents want to introduce screen media, select high-quality programming/apps and use them together with the child.
For children 2 years and older, limit screen media use to no more than 1 hour of h…

Reviewing Author

John D. Cowden, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

John D. Cowden, MD, MPH

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Guidance for Counseling Families on Children's Digital Media Use

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Reviewing Author