Will Maurer

Executive Director, Children’s Media Research and Reform Lab (CMRRL)

“Father of Children’s Media Reform”

TEDx and Keynote Speaker

20-year media insider working to reform the systems shaping how the youngest children encounter screen time.

Press & media inquiries: Will Maurer, Executive Director, press@cmrrl.org

Responses within 3 business hours, 9am–6pm PT, Monday–Saturday

For faster scheduling, call or text 1-818-679-4868

Photo Credit: 406 Memories

The screen time crisis is the result of a systemic failure, not a parenting failure.
“No screens before 2” policies have created a regulatory void that profit-driven platforms have rushed to fill.
Although we agree that screens should be avoided for as long as possible, the research shows that screens are being introduced at younger ages and for longer periods of time. Parents of young children deserve access to non-commercial developmentally-appropriate options.
Current screen time policies are not only ineffective, they have created a knowledge and regulatory gap, and have blocked support and funding for broader research and safer solutions.
Parents are bombarded with deceptive marketing claims such as “educational,” “calm,” “baby-safe,” “developed by experts”, without the regulatory accountability to back them up.
The field of children's media needs a Fred Rogers-scale overhaul of standards and regulations, not guidelines that fail to address the realities of modern parenting.
Parents, educators and pediatricians often lack the digital literacy skills to identify overstimulating design elements and to support families whose children are already dependent on screens.
While many organizations offer general parenting advice, they often lack the insider technical knowledge of how children’s content and streaming platforms are actually built to capture and hold attention. This gap in expertise is a critical road block for families and professionals alike.