In the modern age, technology and parenting go hand-in-hand. According to a 2023 study by the Pew Research Center, 97% of teens said they use the internet daily, with almost half of those surveyed reporting that they are on the internet “almost constantly.” According to ACT for Youth, data from 2023 reports that in adolescents between the ages of 13 to 17, 95% have smartphones, 90% have desktop or laptop computers, 83% have gaming consoles, and 65% have tablet computers.
While our children cannot imagine a world without all these high-tech toys, many parents say they struggle to know how much screen time is too much. With tech gifts from Christmas filling the house, parents can either learn how to control how much technology invades their family space or they can be controlled by it.
Healthy Screen Time Limits
According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, “On average, children ages 8 to 12 in the United States spend four to six hours a day watching or using screens, and teens spend up to nine hours.”
Too much screen time has been shown to have negative impacts on adolescents. This can cause:
- Sleep problems
- Lower academic grades
- Mood problems
- Weight gain
- Poor self-image
With too much screen time, children may also be exposed to violence and risk-taking behaviors, sexual content, and cyberbullies or predators.
As for screen time limits, the World Health Organization recommends no screen time for infants and toddlers up to age 2. For ages 2-4, less than one hour of screen time is recommended.
As for older adolescents, the American Academy of Pediatrics states that there is no set number of hours that is “safe” regarding internet usage. As of 2016, they recommend monitoring the quality of internet usage rather than just quantity. For example, one hour spent video chatting with a child’s grandmother will have a more positive impact than one hour spent scrolling on TikTok.
According to the AAP, “When it comes to household rules around technology use, there is evidence that rules focusing on content, co-viewing, and communication are associated with better well-being outcomes than rules focused on screen time.”
Internet Safety for Teens
In addition to too much screen time, safety and privacy can also be a concern for adolescents with frequent internet usage. According to Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) in England, online safety risks can be grouped into the Four Cs of Online Safety:
- Content: Content refers to any inappropriate words, images, or videos that an adolescent may find online. This includes content related to pornography, racism, self-harm and suicide, misleading information, and more.
- Contact: Contact refers to adolescents interacting with other users online. This can include peer pressure as well predatory actions, such as an adult trying to groom or exploit a child.
- Conduct: Conduct refers to how people behave online. Inappropriate conduct that can pose a safety risk is cyberbullying and sending or receiving explicit images.
- Commerce: Commerce refers to online gambling, inappropriate advertising, and financial scams that adolescents may encounter.
According to the American Psychology Association, there are a few steps parents can take to to keep their children and teens safe on the internet:
- Monitor internet usage. Screen time settings are available on most devices and can help teens set limits and learn self-control. Additionally, safety features such as limiting chat functions and filtering out adult content can make sure your teen’s internet usage stays appropriate.
- Foster open communication. Openly talking with your teen about how social media works, what they’ve seen on the internet, how it made them feel, and how they might respond in certain scenarios can ensure they’re using the internet appropriately. Open communication allows parents to know what their kids are seeing and gives teens a safe space to discuss any inappropriate content or behavior they experience online.
- Watch for problematic behavior. If a child begins spending more time on the internet, being secretive about their digital activities, engaging less with family or friends, or having severe mood swings, it may indicate a safety risk, such as cyberbullying or grooming.
Other Tips for Parenting in the Technological Age:
- Make a family media plan.
This should be a plan that works for your family values and parenting style. Technology will continue to be a huge part of daily living, but you can set parameters around how, when, where, and with whom your children can use it. Be clear about your expectations and consequences for not following them.
- Treat media like you would any other aspect of your child’s life.
Know what platforms, software, and apps they’re using, where they’re going online, who their friends are, both online and off, and what they’re watching on Netflix, Hulu, or television. Set limits like you would with anything else.
- Be a good role model.
Children may model their behaviors and attitudes regarding the internet based on what they see from their parents. Limit your own technology usage. Turn off the television during meals. Put your phone down and interact. Engage in conversation and play instead of staring at a screen.
- Create tech-free zones.
Keeping screens out of children’s bedrooms is a good thing. Set up recharging stations in a common area. Make family meals a time of face-to-face interaction.
- Avoid using technology as the go-to when you have nothing better to do.
The temptation is to jump on a screen when you are bored, stressed, upset, or have no other plans. Instead of planting your face in front of a screen, participate in screen-free activities, such as going outside and taking a walk, keeping word puzzles handy like word search, crossword, or Sudoku, or introducing board games to your children. Studies show all of these types of interactions are far better for your brain than screen time.
Technology usage will continue to increase. The best thing you can do for your children is teach them healthy boundaries, the benefits of interpersonal interaction, the importance of time away from technology, and how to keep themselves safe.
Julie Baumgardner, MS, CFLE
President and CEO, First Things First
