Mission

The Screen Time Action Network at Fairplay is a collaborative community of practitioners, educators, advocates, and parents who work to reduce excessive technology use harming children, adolescents, and families. We support practical solutions grounded in research by developing strategic partnerships, creating groundbreaking resources, and amplifying the work of our members.

We believe that creating a healthy media environment for children requires far more than individualistic and family-based solutions or unquestioning acceptance of the status quo. To this end, we support advocacy that challenges the business model for children's media and policies that prioritize children's wellbeing over tech companies' profits.

We are a truly independent, nonprofit voice for children and do not accept funding from anyone who benefits financially from children's time with screens.

Our Story

Many educators, pediatricians, and other professionals working with children are concerned about childhood tech use. They see that overuse of digital devices is negatively affecting kids’ wellbeing, and encourage children and families to spend less time with screens and more time in creative and active play. But trends, marketing, and the myth that tech is essential to children’s learning make reducing screen time challenging work. Professionals often report feeling discouraged, isolated, and unable to create their own resources for parents.

The Screen Time Action Network, a global membership organization, was born from the needs of these professionals and the families they serve. Whether reducing children's screen time is a core part of your work, or just a small piece of what you do with families, the Action Network is designed to support you. Join other professionals who believe that reducing children’s screen time is both necessary and possible, share and access resources, learn about best practices, and help families raise healthy children.

Fairplay

The Screen Time Action Network is a project of Fairplay. Fairplay works to create a world where children’s lives are shaped by what’s best for them, not by corporate profits. Our advocacy is grounded in the overwhelming evidence that child-targeted marketing undermines healthy development and the belief that society bears responsibility for, and benefits immeasurably from, the wellbeing of children. Fairplay holds corporations accountable for their harmful marketing practices and advocates for policies to give children the commercial-free time and space they need. As part of our ongoing efforts to help reduce the amount of time kids spend with ad-supported digital media, we are the home of Screen-Free Week. For more information, visit www.fairplayforkids.org.