Cut screen time in classrooms to avoid long-term health issues, government urged
A group of over 150 clinicians has urged the UK government to reduce screen time in classrooms, citing concerns over physical and developmental health. They argue that excessive use of tablets and laptops is contributing to a rise in short-sightedness and other health issues among children.
Why it matters
This highlights a growing tension between the integration of digital technology in education and the potential long-term health consequences for students.
By Ottilie Mitchell , BBC News and Adam Goldsmith Published 21 minutes ago The amount of time children in England spend on screens at school could be harming their "physical and developmental health", a group of more than 150 clinicians has warned.
GPs, paediatricians and other specialists said in an open letter to Education Secretary Lucy Powell and Health Secretary Yvette Cooper that tablets and laptops are being used without a full understanding of their long-term health impacts, including on eye health.
The clinicians said they are prescribing glasses, hearing aids and speech therapy to children "for a problem that is unintentionally being made worse in our schools".
The government said it was consulting on screen time guidance for children aged five to 18 but that technology could be a powerful learning tool if used properly.
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