Now that kids are back in school, it can be challenging to monitor their screen time.Experts say the online world can be helpful but also harmful, especially for a child’s development.
Steven Schlozman, the chief of child psychiatry at the University of Vermont Health Network, said technology changes fast. But there are ways to help kids build healthy habits.”The landscape changes so fast. What’s possible online, how kids interact online, that changes rapidly too. I think one of the concerns is just being able to stay ahead of that as a parent. Part of our job is to let our kids individually separate out. But at the same time, you want to know what the world’s like,” said Schlozman.He added that fear of social media is present everywhere.
“Parents are worried about kids stumbling on something inappropriate or deliberately seeking out inappropriate content,” said Schlozman. “Kids worry too. When you look at the studies, they worry about different things. They worry about the reputation because so much of personal reputation is staked through social media platforms.”
He said that schools can help during this learning process too.
“The main job of schools right now is to help kids to remember that the internet is a permanent place, and it’s also not fact. Just because it shows up on a screen doesn’t mean it’s true,” said Schlozman.Now, policymakers are stepping in.
In Vermont, the new Kids Code requires safer default settings and limits addictive design features.
In New York, the SAFE For Kids Act would block algorithmic feeds and late-night notifications for children without parental consent.
“Many states around the union are enacting similar principles. I just want to add the caveat here — these companies, their job is to make money. So they’re going to work hard to find a way around it,” he said. “It’s the job of external forces, like the people who make these laws to restrict them. And then parents, it would be good to be aware of this.”
Schlozman said policies can set guardrails, but family conversations, privacy settings, and offline routines still matter most.
Officials recommend checking in about what your child is seeing and reminding them that online is permanent.