Government to publish first screen time guidance for children aged 5 to 16

New government advice for parents will cover screen use, social media and when children may be ready for a smartphone.

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Published: June 8, 2026 at 4:06 PM

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New guidance designed to help parents navigate children's screen use is set to be published later this year, the government has announced.

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The advice, aimed at families with children aged 5 to 16, will cover topics including smartphones, social media, sleep, learning and healthy digital habits. It follows growing concern among parents about balancing the benefits of technology with its potential risks.

The announcement comes just months after the government published its first-ever screen use guidance for parents of under-fives in March 2026, which offered advice on building healthy digital habits during the early years.

The Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care say the new guidance will be practical and evidence-based, rather than setting blanket rules for all families.

What will the new screen time guidance cover?

two young boys staring at computer tablets

The government has launched a three-week call for evidence to help shape the guidance before it is published in autumn 2026.
Parents could receive advice on:

The guidance will be informed by an independent expert group co-chaired by Children's Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza and Professor Russell Viner.

According to the government, the aim is to help families make informed decisions about technology use while recognising that digital devices are now a routine part of childhood.

Why is the government introducing new advice?

Research published alongside the announcement highlights the challenge many parents face.

While 96% of parents believe their child benefits from being online, fewer than three in ten feel the benefits outweigh the risks when it comes to social media, messaging services and video-sharing platforms.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said parents are facing issues that did not exist for previous generations.
"Parents are trying to navigate challenges previous generations never faced, and they deserve clear, practical support they can trust."

She added: "We want every child to benefit from technology’s opportunities without sacrificing the things that matter most - their learning, their wellbeing and their childhood."

It follows new advice for parents of under-fives

The planned guidance for school-age children comes hot on the heels of the government's first screen use guidance for parents of under-fives, published in March 2026.

That advice focused on helping families build healthy habits from an early age and encouraged parents to think about how screen use affects sleep, physical activity and family time.

According to new government polling, 86% of parents support the under-fives guidance and 82% say it is already helping families create healthier routines around screens.

What are parents saying about children's screen use?

Young girl lying in dark bedroom, face lit by laptop glow, looking tired and bored during late-night screen time, hinting at digital dependency and eye strain

The announcement comes amid ongoing debate around smartphone use, social media access and online safety for children.
Dame Rachel de Souza, Children's Commissioner for England, said many families are looking for practical guidance rather than one-size-fits-all rules.

Young people get huge benefits from technology – but despite wanting to spend less time on screens they tell me they find it hard to put their devices down. Parents and carers tell me they want to help but they struggle to know what the right balance is.

Dame Rachel de Souza, Children's Commissioner for England

According to Dame Rachel, children and parents alike are seeking "clear, trustworthy information and guidance on screen use alongside action to remove explicit and harmful content and features."

How does this fit into wider online safety plans?

The new guidance forms part of a broader programme of government action around children's digital lives.
Measures already in place or under consideration include:

The government says it is also gathering evidence about how technology is used in schools, with the goal of ensuring digital tools support learning while protecting children from harm.

What about AI in schools?

Alongside the new guidance, ministers have announced plans to strengthen oversight of technology used in education.
Later this year, the government will consult on independent safety certification for certain school technologies, including generative AI tools and filtering and monitoring systems.

A new AI Youth Advisory Board is also being created with support from the Children's Commissioner, giving young people a say in how emerging technologies affect their lives.

The government is additionally working with schools and technology companies to develop AI-powered tutoring tools that could eventually support up to 450,000 disadvantaged pupils.

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For parents, however, the most immediate change will be the arrival of the new screen use guidance this autumn, which aims to offer clearer answers to some of the questions families are increasingly asking about children's digital lives.

Authors

journalist and two young kids sat on a bench in France for a review of Eurocamp

Hollie BondSenior Digital Journalist

Hollie is Senior Digital Journalist at MadeForMums. She writes articles about pregnancy, parenting, child health and getting pregnant. She has written for a number of national lifestyle magazines and websites over the past 12 years including Family History Monthly, You and Your Wedding and Muddy Stilettos. She has two children aged 5 and 8 and hasn't slept since 2017!

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