Korean toddlers’ screen time exceeds WHO guidelines, survey finds

SOUTH KOREA, 28 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

A survey of 400 South Korean parents published Monday revealed that more than half of toddlers in the country begin using smartphones before their second birthday, defying global pediatric health guidelines.

The findings, published in the MIND journal by the National Center for Mental Health’s research institute, show that 50.98% of children start smartphone use before age 2, with 77.64% beginning before age 3, raising concerns over early exposure to digital devices.

The data, collected from parents, indicate that the most common age for initial smartphone use is between 12 to 23 months, cited by 37.18% of respondents. Other notable age groups include 24 to 35 months (26.66%), zero to 11 months (13.80%), 36 to 47 months (12.39%), and 48 to 59 months (12.96%).

On weekdays, 56.78% of parents reported their children using smartphones for under an hour daily, while 32.74% reported no screen time and 9.46% reported one to three hours of use. However, weekend screen time surged, with 22.58% of children using smartphones for one to three hours—a more than twofold increase from weekday usage.

The share of children with no screen time dropped to 21.28% on weekends from 32.74% on weekdays, while those using devices for under an hour remained steady at 54.87%.

The survey’s results starkly contrast with international health recommendations. The World Health Organization (WHO) issued guidelines in 2019 advising zero sedentary screen time for children under 2 and a one-hour daily limit for ages 2 to 4. Similarly, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends avoiding screen media entirely for children under 18 months, except for video calls.

The findings were published in MIND, the research journal of the Mental Health Research Institute under the National Center for Mental Health, and were reported by Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times.

While the survey highlights a growing trend of early smartphone exposure among South Korean toddlers, it does not provide immediate policy responses or government reactions. However, the data shows a broader global debate on digital device use in early childhood, particularly in tech-savvy societies where screen time is increasingly normalized. The study’s publication follows rising concerns among pediatricians and health officials about the long-term cognitive and developmental impacts of early screen exposure.

For Malaysia, where digital adoption is also rapidly expanding, the findings may serve as a cautionary example. Local health authorities and parenting groups have previously emphasized the importance of limiting screen time for young children, aligning with WHO and AAP guidelines. The South Korean survey could prompt further discussions in Malaysia on early childhood digital habits, particularly as parents balance work demands with childcare in an increasingly connected world.

The next steps may include public health campaigns or policy reviews to address rising screen time trends among toddlers.

Related: South Korea