Federal Education Minister Jason Clare says a digital detox for schools will be discussed at a meeting with state education ministers, expected early next month. The push follows efforts overseas to cut screen time in classrooms. Sweden has moved strongly away from digital devices since 2023, but its recent PISA results still declined. An OECD report found moderate device use for learning was linked to stronger science performance, while excessive use was linked to weaker outcomes. Experts say China and Estonia, both strong PISA performers, take different approaches to technology in schools.
Comedian Demi Adejuyigbe has said he would like everyone to take government-mandated dance classes. In a Subway Takes interview with Kareem Rahma, he discussed his digital habits. He said he switched from Spotify to Apple Music over concerns about musician pay and company links to AI and military contracts. He said he would like X to be limited to three posts a day, and that he wants to stop using it entirely. He also described his love of his Canon film camera and his interest in visual effects in film.
Advice for parents about young children and screens is growing more complex, and often conflicts with itself. Research into public discussion, including official guidelines, online content and news reporting, found guidance now covers when and how screens are used, not just age and time. Parents are also told to focus on the benefits of screen use, such as watching and talking with their child. The researcher says this can add stress, guilt and confusion, and does not reflect families' different circumstances. Instead, parents are encouraged to focus on what works for their own child.
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Maka, a new streaming app for children aged 0 to 6, has launched with no ads, no autoplay and no endless scrolling. Its founders say its algorithms do not aim to maximise watch time. Every episode is assessed by child development experts using a framework built with researchers at the Yale Child Study Center. The platform charges $15 a month or $107 a year. Critics say YouTube has not done enough to separate educational content from low-quality AI-generated videos, and the company says its stricter standards apply to content for younger viewers.
Schools and libraries across the United States have asked the Federal Communications Commission to drop a proposal that could end E-Rate, a program that funds internet access for students and library visitors. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has criticised school districts for excessive student screen time and argued the program has grown beyond its original purpose. His proposal could cut discounts or add restrictions on spending, and could lead to the program being ended altogether. Commissioner Anna Gomez voted against the proposal, saying the FCC lacks the mandate to police children's behaviour in schools.
Schools and teachers across Australia have been warned to use AI sparingly in classrooms, or risk harming students' lifelong learning. The Australian Education Research Organisation, a government-owned body, released the advice today. Its chief executive, Jenny Donovan, said AI could disrupt learning and hide students' reliance on it as a crutch. She said AI should be avoided entirely in the first three years of primary school. Education Minister Jason Clare linked heavy screen time to recent weak results in global PISA testing.
The WA Government will run a six-month pilot in 10 public schools that limits screen use for kindergarten to Year 2 students from term one, 2027. Screens will only be used where needed to learn digital technology skills or prepare Year 2 students for NAPLAN testing. Participating schools will receive $50,000 for screen-free resources such as books. WA Education Minister Sabine Winton said technology must be balanced with hands-on learning. The move follows federal concern about falling education scores, with Victoria and NSW also capping classroom screen time.
Ten public schools across Western Australia will trial limits on screen time for students from Kindergarten to Year 2 from Term 1, 2027. The six-month Back to Basics program will give each school $50,000 to buy screen-free materials. Education Minister Sabine Winton says the state wants its own policy, following similar moves in New South Wales and Victoria. Premier Roger Cook says classrooms should focus on students talking, challenging each other and asking questions. Students will still use devices for technology curriculum skills and online NAPLAN testing.
