In September last year, the Public Health Agency's new recommendations on screen time for children were presented, as it was also established that excessive screen use can have a negative impact on health. Shortly thereafter, the Som survey posed questions about attitudes towards screens. The result now reveals that 67 percent are in favor of restricting children's screen use - only 11 percent think it's a bad idea.
"There is a broad consensus on the issue in Sweden," says Anders Carlander, researcher at the University of Gothenburg, in a press release.
Women and older people are most in favor of restrictions. 71 percent of women believe the suggestion is good, compared to 63 percent of men. Among people over 65 years old, 71 percent are positive, compared to 62 percent in the 16-29 age group.
"History is replete with examples of moral panic, where older generations have had a negative view of younger people's culture and habits," says Anders Carlander.
The survey also shows that the more one "gamer" themselves, especially online games, the less positive one is to restricting screen time for children.
The Som survey posed the question to 26,250 people and had a response rate of 51 percent.
