Parents of under-fives in England are to be offered official advice on how long their children should spend watching TV or looking at computer screens. The government says it will publish its first guidance on screen time for the age group in April. It comes as government research was published showing that about 98% of children under two were watching screens on a daily basis - with parents, teachers and nursery staff saying youngsters were finding it harder to hold conversations or concentrate on learning. Children with the highest screen time - around five hours a day - reportedly could say significantly fewer words than those at the other end of the scale who watched for around 44 minutes. A national working group led by Children's Commissioner for England Dame Rachel de Souza and Department for Education scientific adviser Professor Russell Viner will formulate the guidance after speaking to parents, children and early years practitioners.

Our columnist on digital culture suggests technology--or anti-technology technology--to give this holiday season. We are entering a Surrealist phase of personal technology. Any device you might imagine can be found online courtesy of an obscure Chinese factory, ready to be shipped out for a loved one's holiday enjoyment: pocket-size artificial-intelligence gizmos ( Rabbit r1, $199), in-home hologram machines (Code 27 Character Livehouse, $558), human-size robot servants ( 1X NEO, $20,000). The components of tech have become better and cheaper, from microchips to speakers and screens (have you seen how cheap a good TV is these days?), enabling out-there innovation. On the consumer side, we are bored of rote device designs; we've seen a dozen models of iPhone and crave something refreshingly different.

The first step to recovery is acceptance of this fact. Listen to more stories on the Noa app. This article was featured in the One Story to Read Today newsletter. "That's enough screen time for today," you tell your kid, urging them to turn off the video-game console or iPad. As for what they should do instead, you are not quite sure.

The head of global theme park giant Merlin Entertainments says its biggest competition is people choosing to stay at home on their phones and other devices. Fiona Eastwood says a day out at one of its UK attractions - which include Legoland, Thorpe Park and Alton Towers - was the perfect antidote for spiralling screen time. In a wide-ranging BBC Big Boss Interview, the chief executive reflected on challenges in the forthcoming Budget, big brand partnerships, and how its customers were responding to cost-of-living pressures. Eastwood also highlighted the importance of seasonal attractions to its customers - with Halloween now rivalling its summer season in driving profits at some attractions. Having been in the job since February, Eastwood has taken over at a time when her industry is facing challenges from a dip in consumer confidence.

Looking back, my youngest child's tantrum over the iPad alarmed me at the time - but on reflection I've experienced similar performances over non-screen related activities: like when he was playing hide and seek with his brothers and didn't want to get ready for bed. Screen time comes up a lot in my conversations with other parents too. Some of us are stricter than others. The official advice is currently inconsistent. Neither the US American Academy of Paediatrics nor the UK's Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health recommend any specific time limits for children.

We're a week into the school summer holidays here in England, and I wonder how many parents who started out determined to keep their children completely away from screens are now beginning to feel the strain. When my sons were much younger, I often had these idyllic images in my head of day trips to the seaside, back garden treasure hunts, paddling in the river, visiting relatives … an endless series of character forming experiences which I imagined in grainy Kodachrome colours. Then I'd be faced with the reality of having a job, and also the, let's say, limited attention span of my sons. Sheepishly, we'd end up allowing some Fortnite time to catch our breath. There is so much pressure and guilt around children and gaming, especially during long school breaks, and I think we need to seriously redress our outlook as a society.

Dr. Sabrina Browne, a Texas-based psychiatrist, explains what flood survivors might experience and how to know when it's time to get professional help. Ever feel like your devices are wearing you down? However, here's the catch: a growing connection exists between technology and mental health, affecting everything from focus to sleep. We're breaking down five buzzworthy terms that explain how our digital habits are shaping the way we think, feel, and function. So, if you've ever wondered why your mind feels foggy or why you can't stop scrolling, this is a judgment-free zone, with smart insights and doable tips to help you reset.

The taglines on M3GAN 2.0 posters read like text messages from an overconfident tween: "HEY, QUEENS." "MISS ME?" "I'M STILL THAT B." (Another that apparently exists, though I haven't seen in the wild, hilariously reads: "THIS BITCH.") Next to them, the titular robot who looks like an uncanny-valley Olsen twin peers from above circular sunglasses. This character that, per her 2023 film debut, will kill you and your little dog, too, is now being marketed with big child-star energy. While she always had more to offer than malice (her late-movie dance break went viral from its trailer alone), this moment marks a clear pivot on M3GAN's Mary Janes.

A horrific rape and incest video game has sparked fury by encouraging players to be'women's worst nightmare'. The game, titled'No Mercy', centres around a protagonist who rapes his family members including his aunt and his own mother. Players of the vile game are instructed to'never take no for an answer' in their ambition to'subdue' and'own' women. Despite its horrendous themes, the game does not have an official age rating and was available for sale on Steam, the most popular digital game store. The game's developer, Zerat Games, published the game on Steam in March where children as young as 13 can make an account.

In the past two decades, technology has revolutionized nearly every aspect of our lives. From healthcare to communication, the digital age has reshaped how we work, interact, and learn. But as we integrate these technological advancements into our children's classrooms, we must ask: are we doing more harm than good? As a practicing physician, I've watched the benefits, but also the consequences of overexposure to technology unfold, not just in my patients, but also in my own children. The classroom, once a place of dynamic, face-to-face learning and interaction, has become a virtual world where screens dominate.