MP warns children spend too much time on math app TT Rockstars
Math app TT Rockstars creator Bruno Reddy introduces mandatory curfews and time limits after a Milton Keynes MP raises screen time concerns in Parliament.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- UK MP raises concerns in Parliament over primary school children's screen time on TT Rockstars.
- The developer announces mandatory daily time limits and disabled leaderboards starting Nov 24.
- The app is currently used in 17,000 schools and over 100,000 households globally.
Concerns regarding the amount of time young students spend on digital learning platforms have reached the UK Parliament, following warnings from a member of parliament about a popular multiplication practice application.
The application in question, TT Rockstars, is widely utilized by primary schools for math homework, gamifying the process of learning times tables by allowing children to compete against classmates for virtual coins and rock-star avatars.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
In response to the growing apprehension, Bruno Reddy, founder of Maths Circle the firm behind the application, stated that he shares concerns regarding screen time and is actively working with educational institutions to implement stricter limits.
Reddy explained that the company advises schools to restrict sessions to just three minutes, four or five times a week, emphasizing that every activity within the platform is intentionally kept brief with characters reminding players to take breaks.
"Every game in TTRS is deliberately short, and our characters remind children to take regular breaks."
Bruno Reddy
Furthermore, the developer confirmed that beginning November 24, all participating schools will have a daily time limit and curfew enabled automatically, while competitive leaderboards will be switched off by default to ease performance pressure.
This development highlights the ongoing debate surrounding educational technology (EdTech) and the use of gamification techniques. While mechanics like badges, leaderboards, and virtual currency successfully drive student engagement, they can inadvertently foster addictive behaviors and peer pressure among young children. Policymakers and educators are increasingly pressured to establish clearer boundaries to protect children's well-being.
During the Commons Science Committee inquiry, early education minister Paul Waugh echoed similar sentiments, noting that gamification might not always be the optimal method for education amidst broader calls from medical professionals to curb classroom screen time.
Source: BBC Politics
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