BBC Survey: Parents Concerned About Children’s Screen Time

According to a new survey from BBC Children’s and Education, the majority of parents across the U.K. are concerned about children’s screen time post-pandemic yet acknowledge benefits in creativity and communication.

The survey has found that 79 percent of parents feel children have used screens more since the pandemic. While 67 percent of parents feel concerned about what their child is watching, parents do see real value in screens, with 65 percent agreeing that they have the ability to foster creativity and communication.

Also, 93 percent of parents are interested in educational programming for their children; 51 percent say that education is the most important thing when it comes to what children are watching on screens, followed by 30 percent saying entertainment.

Amid potential concerns around types of screen content, 70 percent of parents said that it is important that the content their child accesses comes from a trusted source.

While there is the feeling that children are using screens more, the survey dispels the idea that parents universally feel guilty about giving their children access to screens: 55 percent of parents admitted they do not experience guilt when providing their child with a phone, though 83 percent say it is important to limit your child’s screen time, which suggests that quality over quantity is an important factor to parents.

Patricia Hidalgo, director of BBC Children’s and Education, said: “The debate around children and screens is often a difficult one for parents to navigate. As a public service offering that has earned the unswerving trust of British families, the BBC is in a unique position to address this. When it comes to screens, it’s what’s on them that counts and we are proud to highlight, through this campaign, our support to all families across the U.K. by delivering bold, multi-genre and age-appropriate content that enriches children’s abilities to connect with others, express their ideas and develop essential communication skills, whilst keeping them entertained!”