Montana Brown has publicly criticized what she describes as "sick and twisted" companies for companies that create "addictive" television shows and games for children. The former Love Island contestant, who has two young children, Jude, three, and Miley, 20 months, stated that she allows them screen time only on "very rare occasions."
Brown shared her concerns in a video, referencing the book "Dopamine Kids" by Michaeleen Doucleff. She expressed surprise at learning how ultra-processed foods, screen time, and children's programming are designed to be addictive, noting a perceived lack of regulation for content creators. "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," Brown told her followers.
She specifically called out the video game platform Roblox, stating that its features are designed to keep children engaged, with artificial intelligence learning what holds their attention. "AI now is learning what things are keeping them on the app for longer, it's actually just a little bit evil," Brown said, describing the practice as "cruel and unethical."
Brown advocated for tech companies to take an oath to ensure their products are beneficial to children and supportive of parents. She suggested that such an oath would commit companies to providing peace for children, supporting parents with time for themselves, and maintaining the integrity and appropriateness of their programming for young minds.
Responding to comments suggesting that her generation grew up with television without harm, Brown clarified that her concern is not with television itself, but with the nature of current children's programming, which she believes is significantly different from what was available in the past. She recalled watching nature programs like "Animal Planet" extensively in her youth.
In January, Brown had mentioned that her son Jude had his "first proper screen time" at the age of two, watching a film for a few minutes during a long-haul flight. Her approach to parenting and screen time has previously drawn criticism, including past comments about teachers allegedly showing students films all day and providing them with doughnuts. During school visits for her son, Brown expressed a preference for him to be outdoors or engaged in sports rather than using screens for homework, wanting to ensure his school day was not dominated by screen time.
Brown has also faced public scrutiny for other parenting decisions, including introducing whole nuts to her children from eight months old, a practice that deviates from NHS guidelines recommending whole nuts not be given to children under five due to choking hazards. She explained her rationale was to help her children develop chewing skills and to mitigate allergy risks, acknowledging the controversial nature of her choice. Her past comments on school desserts, sugar, and children's food pouches have also generated discussion.