Screen use by children aged 5-16: call for evidence

Overview

This call for evidence seeks robust and clearly presented evidence to inform the development of new parental guidance resources on screen use for children and young people aged 5-16. It will also inform future policy thinking on the use of screens in schools.

The evidence gathered from Part A (the use of screens by 5-16 year olds) will be considered by our 5-16 Expert Advisory Group (EAG), who will be developing an independent evidence review to inform new parent-facing guidance resources on 5-16 screen use.

The evidence gathered from Part B (screen time and usage in schools) will be considered by the department alongside continued engagement with the education and EdTech sectors to inform future policy development.

Closes 29 Jun 2026

Opened 8 Jun 2026

Audiences

  • Experts and sector stakeholders
  • Experts in child development, health and education
  • Professional and academic stakeholders
  • Research, health and education professionals
  • Subject matter experts and sector representatives

Interests

  • Benefits and risks of screen use
  • Children’s screen use (purpose, timing, context)
  • Differences by age and development
  • Supporting parents to manage screen use