How Teens and Parents Approach Screen Time

Today’s teenagers are more digitally connected than ever. Most have access to smartphones and use social media, and nearly half say they are online almost constantly. But how are young people navigating this “always on” environment? To better understand their experiences, we surveyed both teens and parents on a range of screen time-related topics. Our questions explored the emotions teens tie to their devices, the impact of smartphones on youth, and the challenges parents face when raising children in the digital age. Key findings from the survey include:

• Phone-less: 72 percent of U.S. teens say they often or sometimes feel peaceful when they don’t have their smartphone; 44 percent say it makes them feel anxious.
• Good for hobbies, less so for socialization: 69 percent of teens say smartphones make it easier for youth to pursue hobbies and interests; fewer (30 percent) say it helps people their age learn good social skills.
• Parental snooping: Half of parents say they have looked through their teen’s phone.
• Smartphone standoffs: About four-in-ten parents and teens report regularly arguing with one another about time spent on their phone.
• Distracted parenting: Nearly half of teens (46 percent) say their parent is at least sometimes distracted by their phone when they’re trying to talk to them.