Kids Aren’t Watching as Much TV Anymore, but It’s Being Replaced by This Type of Screen Time

In a world where kids are surrounded by tablets, smartphones, and gaming consoles from birth, finding a balance between healthy media consumption, unstructured play, reading, and more is becoming increasingly challenging for parents.

A recent Common Sense Media report of media usage by kids, aged 0 to 8, found that while overall screen time has remained stable at about 2.5 hours daily, how children use that time has shifted significantly. Children watched fewer television shows and videos but participated in more gaming in 2024 compared to 2020, says Supreet Mann, PhD, director of research for Common Sense Media and one of the lead researchers on the study.

“Short-form videos are also emerging as an important part of children’s screen media activities, with nearly half (48%) of children aged 0 to 8 having ever watched short videos on platforms like TikTok or Reels,” says Dr. Mann. “These changes present both opportunities like interactive learning and creativity and challenges like content exposure and supervision gaps.”

But rather than judging these trends as good or bad, Dr. Mann suggests parents focus on context to guide children toward beneficial media experiences. Here’s what you need to know about the changing landscape of media use in little kids, how it aligns with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guidelines, and what you can do to encourage healthy media use.

How Media Use Has Changed Among Young Kids

Researchers found gaming up 65% since 2020—an increase of 23 minutes daily in 2020 to 38 minutes in 2024. They also spent 14 minutes on short-form videos like TikTok and Reels.

“Device ownership also starts remarkably early,” says Dr. Mann. “Forty percent of 2-year-olds have their own tablet and nearly a quarter of 8-year-olds have their own phones. Perhaps most surprising is AI’s entrance into early childhood, with 39% of 5 to 8-year-olds using AI features for school learning.”

Overall, this study shows that technology and media use have become central to daily life, even for children as young as 2, says Carla Counts Allan, PhD, the division chief, and Hagenah Family Endowed Chair in the Division of Psychology at Phoenix Children’s. “While screens have long been used for entertainment and education, they are now integrated into daily routines that were once parent-driven, such as helping children self-regulate and manage transitions like bedtime.”

How These Findings Align With the AAP

The report shows many families exceed the AAP’s time limits. Children under 2 average one hour of screen time daily and 2- to 4-year-olds average two hours.

The AAP recommendation for children younger than 18 months is to avoid using screens other than video chatting, says Don Grant, PhD, MA, MFA, DAC, SUDCC IV, the national advisor of healthy device management for Newport Healthcare. “For children aged 18 to 24 months, parents who want to introduce digital media should choose high-quality programming and watch it with their children to help them understand what they’re seeing.”

The AAP also recommends co-viewing media with kids to help them understand what they are seeing and apply it to the world around them, adds Dr. Grant. This study indicates that 62% of parents occasionally watch YouTube with their children, but only 17% co-view TikTok content.

“This suggests that while some parents are engaging in co-viewing, it may be inconsistent across all platforms,” says Dr. Grant. “This is also of noteworthy concern when again considering the potential of a child accessing and viewing inappropriate content.”

Finally, the AAP recommends ensuring that screen time does not replace adequate sleep, physical activity, and other behaviors essential to health, he says. But, this study highlights that screen time is a significant part of kids’ daily activities, with some children using screens to help manage bedtime routines and emotional regulation.

“This indicates a need for balance to ensure screen time does not interfere with other important activities,” says Dr. Grant. “Parents are encouraged to set consistent limits, co-view content, and prioritize high-quality educational media to align with the AAP’s recommendations.”

Why Manage Your Kid’s Media Use?

Excessive screen time has been linked to cognitive, social-emotional, and language development issues, as well as physical problems like obesity and sleep difficulties, says Dr. Allan. Research shows it may also be contributing to myopia or nearsightedness.

“While screens are now a part of life, it’s important to take a harm-reduction approach, especially for young kids,” says Dr. Allan. “Limiting exposure, particularly during key times like mealtimes, playtime, and bedtime, is crucial.”

Plus, if media use continues to rise at this young age, Dr. Allan says parents may see a decrease in children’s ability to self-soothe, shorter attention spans, and lower frustration tolerance. Sleep disruption is a particular concern, she says because sleep is crucial for both mental and physical health.

Instead, emphasize interactive, educational content over passive viewing, says Dr. Mann. She also suggests being especially vigilant about the supervision gap her team found with only 17% of parents watching TikTok together, despite these platforms rapidly serving content not designed for children.

Tips for Healthy Media Use

Parents may benefit from using age-appropriate content filters, setting up parental controls with their children, and explaining these safety features in kid-friendly terms, says Dr. Mann. “Researching the age-appropriateness of apps and games before downloading them also helps families make informed choices,” adds Dr. Mann.

Here are some additional tips from Dr. Mann and Dr. Allan for managing your young child’s media use.

• Avoid introducing screens to children under 18 months.
• Co-view media with your child and choose interactive, educational content over passive viewing. “Co-viewing transforms screen time into valuable learning opportunities through conversation and shared experiences,” says Dr. Mann.
• Avoid screens during key routines—wake-up, mealtime, and bedtime—when self-regulation skills are still developing. Using media during mealtime can disrupt your child’s ability to listen to hunger cues, leading to overeating, says Dr. Allan.
• Balance media use with physical and social activities.
• Model healthy habits by establishing phone-free zones and routines.
• Disable auto-play features on your child’s devices to give you more control over their viewing sessions.

Finally, keep in mind that once you introduce any device, there is likely no “going back,” says Dr. Grant, sharing, “Carefully consider both the introduction timing of each successive piece of technology including any restrictions, limitations, and appropriateness of products they deliver.”