Children spending too long on maths app TT Rockstars, MP warns
A times table app needing curfews is a strange sign of success. TT Rockstars is clearly doing what it was made to do, but the MP's warning is a reminder that even educational screen time can get out of hand. The makers' response, adding limits and curfews, is sensible, though it does make you wonder why that wasn't part of the design from the start.
I think the real issue involves schools and parents as much as the app. If a teacher sets TT Rockstars as homework, and a child then plays it for fun, the line between work and play blurs. The MP is right to flag that, but I'd want to know more about how much time is actually being spent, and whether the problem is widespread or just a few extreme cases.
For me, the useful takeaway is that any app, however educational, needs boundaries. Curfews are a good start, but they only work if families know about them and schools don't pile on extra pressure to practise. I'd rather see clearer guidance from schools about how much time is reasonable, and more honesty from developers about how sticky their product can be.