Guidance on submitting evidence

This call for evidence focuses on screen use and experiences that can be influenced by parents and young people.

We are particularly interested in evidence to:

• Better understand how children use screens (e.g. purpose, timing, context)
• Identify both the benefits and risks of screen use (including play, learning, and social interaction)
• Understand how impacts vary by age, developmental stage, and context
• Support real-world decision-making by parents and young people, and identify what works in practice to support positive outcomes
• Understand how families manage and support screen use

This includes evidence on a broad range of digital experiences, including social media, gaming, educational technology, and emerging technologies such as AI, smart/connected devices and interactive tools. We are interested in how screens are used and experienced, not just time spent.

Respondents should aim to:

• Clearly explain what the evidence shows and how strong it is;
• Distinguish between correlation and causation where relevant;
• Provide references or links where possible;
• Specify the age group(s) the evidence relates to.

Age groups

For Part A (the use of screens by 5-16 year olds) , respondents should provide age-specific evidence wherever possible, using the following groupings:

• 5–7 (early primary);
• 8–11 (later primary);
• 11–12 (transition to secondary);
• 13–14 (early adolescence; increasing social media use);
• 15–16 (mid-adolescence; GCSE period).

For Part B (screen time and usage in schools), respondents should similarly provide age-specific evidence where possible, but across the 4-16 years range. This is to account for suitable consideration of the usage of screens by children in reception years, who are also in school-based settings.

Where evidence spans multiple groups, please indicate this clearly and highlight any differences.

Who this is for

We want to collect evidence from individuals and organisations with a range of knowledge and expertise.

We are particularly interested in published or ongoing scientific research, systematic reviews and nationally representative longitudinal or cross-sectional studies. We anticipate that this will include evidence from, but not be limited to: 

• Research organisations and academics in the fields of child development, public health (including mental and physical health), child rights and digital literacy;
• Health practitioners;
• Charities and representatives of relevant sectors (education, health, parents, tech);
• Pedagogy and education experts, particularly with knowledge and expertise of how school practices influence children’s screen use (Part B)

Additional copies

Additional copies are available electronically and can be downloaded from DfE policy papers, consultations and calls for evidence.

Other ways to respond

If for exceptional reasons, you are unable to use the online system, for example because you use specialist accessibility software that is not compatible with the system, you may request an alternative format of the form.

By email

screentime.guidance@education.gov.uk

By post

Behaviour Unit

Department for Education

Sanctuary Buildings

Great Smith Street

London

SW1P3BT