Screens make children stupid. Just ask Sweden | The REAL Story with Dr. Phil

The Dr. Phil Podcast

Dr. Phil McGraw

Mental Health, Self-improvement, Society & Culture, Education, Health & Fitness

4.4 • 13.2K Ratings

🗓️ 21 November 2025

⏱️ 17 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Sweden gave the world many amazing things, like IKEA. ABBA, Vikings, and Volvo. Now the Swedes are giving the world a lesson we can't ignore: Screens are rotting our children's minds. And we need to slay the monster once and for all.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Sweden has given the world so many amazing things.
0:05.5	IKEA.
0:06.4	Look at this new kitchen.
0:09.0	Abba.
0:12.6	Vikings and Volvos.
0:14.6	The real story today is that Sweden is giving the world a lesson on the do's and don'ts of parenting.
0:22.6	And it all has to do with, guess what?
0:26.6	Screen time.
0:28.6	Let's look at some headlines.
0:29.6	Sweden went all in on screens in childhood.
0:33.6	Now it's pulling the plug.
0:35.6	Sweden sets nationwide mobile phone ban in schools starting
0:41.8	2026. Here's another one. Back to basics. Sweden aims to de-digitize youth. It's official.
0:51.6	Sweden is pulling the plug. In an amendment to the National Education Act, starting in 2026, Sweden will enforce a nationwide
1:01.2	all-day classroom phone ban.
1:06.0	Oh, do I love hearing this.
1:09.0	Think about that.
1:10.1	I bet you teachers across America are doing the happy dance
1:16.2	and wondering how in the hell can we get this implemented in the United States
1:25.0	because they are sick and tired of looking at the top of kids' heads
1:30.3	instead of children's faces. Listen to Sweden's education minister. Now the Swedish government
1:37.4	has started advocating using less computers in school and reducing screen time off school hours.
	...

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