ADVOCACY TOOLS FOR IMPACT:
HOOKED FROM BIRTH:
OUR KEY FINDINGS
Backed by original research, our new white paper proposes a narrative framing that we believe is the most persuasive path to generate deeper awareness and policy change on issues of early childhood screen time: one that moves away from blaming families toward holding the industry accountable.
NARRATIVE CHANGE FRAMEWORK
For advocates, pediatricians, psychologists, early educators, and others working on behalf of families and children, this framework provides clear, practical strategies for how to communicate more effectively with families—without triggering shame.
For partners, it includes guidance on how to talk to the media, influence policymakers, and reshape public understanding of early childhood screen time.
MEDIA STRATEGY FOR PARTNERS
Want to engage with the media around early childhood screen time? This toolkit is for you! It’s designed to help our partners share their stories, reach new audiences, and inspire action to reduce the harms of screen time for young children. You’ll find practical guidance, story ideas, pitch templates, and tips for engaging with the media.
Fairplay’s Young Children Thrive Offline Program
We seek to change the narrative around early childhood screen time by challenging the unfair design practices in apps targeted to children ages 0–8, as well as the unsubstantiated marketing claims.
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- Shift the narrative from viewing early childhood screen time as essential for development to recognizing it as profit-driven and often harmful to children’s well-being.
- Increase understanding among journalists, policymakers, public health professionals, and advocates of how apps and videos are designed to maximize engagement at the expense of children’s well-being.
- Foster a shared understanding among policymakers and advocates about policy measures that can reduce screen time for young children.
- Raise awareness about deceptive marketing of apps for babies and young children that falsely promote educational benefits. Drive marketing changes in apps or platform.
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- Investigating ways to effectively communicate with parents and caregivers of young children, as well as journalists and policymakers, ensuring that they receive honest information about manipulative design practices.
- Building campaigns to call out deceptive marketing practices and manipulative design.
- Urging regulators to hold companies accountable for taking advantage of young children.
- Working to inform policy.
- Building a collaborative network of Canadian and U.S. researchers, practitioners, and advocates to share research, strategies, and best practices for reducing young children’s screen use.
CONTACT US TO JOIN!
We’re seeking partners to collaborate with in our quest to reduce excessive early childhood screen time and hold companies accountable for their role in keeping young children on screens. Please reach out to our team to request a meeting!
Contact us! Rachel Franz, Program Director: [email protected]; Rene Mejia, Campaign Organizer: [email protected]