Former Love Island star Montana Brown has criticised "evil tech companies" for creating addictive children's television shows and video games in a new Instagram video.
The 31-year-old revealed she has strict limits on how much television her three-year-old son Jude and 20-month-old daughter Miley are allowed to watch, calling modern children's content "sick and twisted".
In a video titled "why I'm holding off on regular screen time for my children", Brown told her followers she is currently reading the book Dopamine Kids by Michaeleen Doucleff. She described the book as "a science-based plan to rewire your child's brain and take back your family in the age of screens and ultraprocessed foods".
The reality star admitted she was "flabbergasted" by what she had read concerning the lack of regulation for content creators, and the reasons why "ultra processed food, screen time and children's shows are so addictive".
"I have let my children watch selective films or programs on very rare occasions but all of these kids shows and games do really concern me," she told her fans.
"I know it’s really common and you can have balance with it but it seems to me it takes a lot of effort from parents to create this balance to manage children’s relationships with their tablets/ tv consumption."
Addictive app features
Calling out the popular video game Roblox, Brown stated that there are numerous features in children's games and television shows designed to ensure they stay on the application.
"There are a lot of addictive features in children's games and TV shows to make sure they stay on the app. AI now is learning what things are keeping them on the app for longer, it's actually just a little bit evil," she said.
Adding that the situation was "sick and twisted", as well as "cruel and unethical", she urged tech companies to sign a pledge regarding their content.
Brown said she wanted companies to "sign an oath to say 'this product is going to bring your child peace, we are going to support parents and allow them to have a bit of time to themselves but also maintain the integrity of our programmes and make sure it's appropriate for their brains.'"
The despairing television personality also admitted to the difficulties of parenting, stating "it's so hard to be a mum and show up every day."
When a follower commented "we all grew up with a bit of TV and it didn’t do us much harm," Brown clarified her stance.
"I’m not against TV time, it’s what they’re creating for our kids is not normal," she explained. "It’s not what we used to watch unfortunately! I used to watch animal planet like no tomorrow!"
This follows a revelation by Brown in January that her son Jude only experienced his "first proper screen time" at two years old, when he watched a few minutes of a film during a long-haul flight.
School screen time controversy
Last year, the opinionated star faced a backlash after posting a TikTok video claiming that teachers "make pupils watch films all day and feed kids doughnuts".
After looking at potential schools for Jude, Brown listed a number of "issues" she had observed during her visits.
"When I send Jude to school I don't want him looking at a screen at all," she began. "A lot of these schools are talking about them doing their homework on a Chromebook."
"I think that time could be better spent. I'd rather him be outdoors, I'd rather him be playing sports," she continued.
"If I want to watch a film with him on a weekend I want to know that he's not been watching films and using screens during school time because then that makes me feel better."
Her followers called her out for being contradictory, pointing out that the majority of her income comes from screens.
"This is absolutely insane it's like dystopia. You're an influencer ranting about screens on a screen," one follower wrote.
Other comments included "What schools are you viewing?" and "She wants Jude to learn on a chalkboard".
Some users joked "I think you are looking for Hogwarts", while another added: "Imagine hating screens that much when the majority of your income comes from screens."
Whole nuts allergy debate
Last month, Brown sparked further criticism when she shared a post detailing her decision to feed her children whole nuts from the age of eight months, a move that goes against National Health Service guidelines.
The former Love Islander said she wanted to get Jude and Miley used to eating nuts to avoid them developing a severe allergy, though she acknowledged her decision is "controversial" because whole nuts are a "choking hazard".
According to NHS guidance: "Whole nuts should not be given to children under 5 years old, because they can choke on them. They should be crushed or ground and added to food or in a butter form."
Brown has sparked criticism before over "tone deaf rage-baiting" posts regarding school desserts, sugar and children's food pouches.
Defending her choices regarding nuts, she wrote: "I know giving children nuts is seen as a choking hazard and controversial. However, having grown up with a severe allergy… it’s been important for me to introduce early."
"I also am of the opinion that if we don’t teach our kids to chew things properly especially when they’re small then I’m not sure it’s helpful to avoid giving them until they’re older?" she added.
Brown revealed she used to blend the nuts before deciding to go against the NHS advice.
"I have always made a point of sitting them down when eating nuts and seeds at the table, no distractions and explaining that it’s even more important to chew your food when we’re eating nuts, seeds or anything small like blueberries etc," she wrote.
