In brief
A recent US court ruling has highlighted concerns about the addictive nature of social media, prompting parents to seek solutions for managing their children's screen time. Experts suggest five effective strategies: starting small with realistic expectations, collaborating with older kids to set boundaries, turning screen time into learning moments, modeling good behavior, and maintaining a calm approach to screen usage concerns.
If you're a parent, you may have felt somewhat validated by the US court ruling that Meta and Google intentionally built addictive social media platforms that harmed the mental health of a young woman.
Lawyers for the woman, known as Kaley, argued that features of Instagram, such as infinite scroll, were designed to be addictive. Although the court ruling has been lauded as a game-changing moment for social media companies, it's of little practical use to parents across the world who are trying to cut down their kids' screen time.
We asked some parenting experts for their tips on how to pry those phones away from their offspring's hands – even if only for a short while.
1. Start small and be realistic
Many parents who have already given their children tablets or smartphones might wonder if the best thing is to just get rid of them. But that might not be the most productive option, believes child psychologist Dr. Jane Gilmour.
Changing a habit is always going to be hard, she says. Instead, she recommends implementing changes at a neutral moment, not in the heat of an argument about screen time. Calm brains communicate best. A good first step to reducing screen time could be designating a set place in the home for devices, such as a particular cupboard.
2. Be collaborative
Older children and teenagers can benefit from being part of the conversation around screen time, rather than having rules imposed on them, says child psychologist Dr. Maryhan Baker. Acknowledging the peer pressure surrounding social media can help get teens onside, such as telling them: I understand that that's where you connect with your friends. I understand the social pressure if you're deemed not to be on this. I really get it.
3. Turn screen time into learning opportunities
Many parents feel they're struggling to keep up with the rapidly changing fads and trends on social media. But there is an opportunity for both adults and children to learn from each other through frank discussions about screen time, says parenting coach Olivia Edwards.
4. Model good behaviour
It's no secret that children mimic their parents, so encouraging good screen habits in them might have to start with some self-reflection. Maryhan encourages a light-hearted approach to this. Even if we just do a slightly self-deprecating conversation with our kids, like: 'We're all guilty of this, I'm not as great on my relationship with [my phone] as I could be.'
5. Don't panic
Parenting has never been easy, but raising children in a time where screens are everywhere, while we are still learning how they affect us, can be very worrying. Dr. Tony Sampson says parents shouldn't fall into the trap of moral panic. There is a tendency for anxious parents to become caught up in a prevailing media panic and see all adolescent brains as simply hardwired for social media addiction, he says.
But children and teenagers have what's called neuroplasticity – their brains are better at adapting and bouncing back than adults' brains. Positive technological use can help boost neuroplasticity for creativity, exploration, and learning.
