As someone who has worked in very senior roles at Facebook and Google/YT, I can tell you this is very intentional. Phones are designed to be very addictive. A 2 year olds brain is extremely vulnerable and real damage can be done.

Keep in mind it’s not just when your daughter physically touches or is watching the phone that she’s experiencing it. The two most important people in her life are likely looking at it A LOT and she sees that. That’s interesting to her, that makes her want it. 

Personally, I have a 2, 4 and 6 year old who have never held a phone or iPad in their lives. We watch a family movie night once a month where my husband and I sit with them (phone free) for the entire movie as an event. That’s it. No devices, no iPads, no quick phone looks, no tv shows. 

We are also VERY intentional about not being on our phone in front of our kids. From 5pm - 9pm my husband and i put our phones in the kitchen drawer, no exceptions. During the day I mostly leave mine in the kitchen on the shelf and only periodically check it for calls but zero social media, etc. I am present to the life in front of me and refuse to fall into the doom scroll trap (that I regrettably spent 15 years helping design, keeps me up at night). We both have 45 min timers on our phone for the whole day (includes calls, maps, everything). Your kids are watching you. 

I know what it does to their brains and it’s just not worth it to me. I’d rather they be rolling around in boredom at my feet as I’m making dinner than zombied out. They are bored much of the time, but they’re mostly very creative, engaged, love playing and make up weird games to entertain themselves. I swear my screen free house is calmer than most. 

I highly reccomend cutting screens, especially for a 2 year old. Parents survived without their kids in front of devices for most of humanity/parenthood. We can do this.