New guidelines say toddlers should have zero screen time. Here's what you need to know.

First up, beyond anecdotal evidence, why are screens so bad… actually?

The majority of evidence points to the fast transitions and bright, flashing lights that is detrimental to the developing brain, says Okely. This is evident in a lot of existing research, with other concerns including impact to the child’s development of social skills, communication, and on their language development.

National spokesperson of Optometry Australia, Luke Arundel, agrees with no screen time for toddlers. He says that a reduction in mobile devices is needed to reduce the risk of short-sightedness in children, calling it a “growing world-wide epidemic” that currently affects 30 per cent of the world’s population.

“The figure is expected to rise to 50 per cent by 2050 and researchers believe this is linked to the amount of time children are spending indoors which, in our digital age, very often means more time on screens.”

However, with tablets, smartphones, and computers changing our lives from how we order our food to how we raise our children, the idea of screen time as just watching cartoons is outdated.

When asked about how educational apps factor into this, Okely says that that research wasn’t available at the time, with the bulk of studies pinning television as the main culprit.

However, programs which focus on creating content, or encouraging children to investigate, problem solve, or make sense of their world, fits a different purpose.

He says they might even have “favourable associations with health and development,” but that more research needs to be done in this area.

“Hopefully these studies will come out in the next four to five years and we’ll update it and have the evidence around that,” he says.

Whether you're in the strictly no-screens bandwagon, or maybe you're a bit more lenient (perhaps out of necessity), Okely says there are rules to better integrate technology into your child's life.

"I think it’s very important, irrespective of what the technology, is to encourage parents to be co-viewing and communicating with young children," he says, while citing solo-media use as the major no-go zone.

"It's how screens should be used if they are being used," he says.

What do you think? Are screens a strict no-go zone for kids, or can they be used in moderation? Tell us below!

LISTEN to the full episode of our podcast for imperfect parents, below.