Parents Are Falling Into the Endless Scrolling Trap But There Is A Way Out
Parents already know they should put their phones down more often, but knowing that and actually breaking the endless-scrolling habit are two very different things. New research suggests many parents are spending hours on their phones without even intending to, leaving them feeling guilty about the time they may be missing with their kids.
Smartphones have become an easy escape during hectic family life. Checking one notification can quickly turn into scrolling through social media, reading the news or watching videos without realizing how much time has passed.
A recent study found that 76% of parents often pick up their phone without thinking, while 48% check or pick it up at least 30 times a day without a specific reason. Parents reported spending an average of two hours and six minutes each day on their phones unintentionally.
Kids are noticing, too. Fifty-six percent of children ages 8 to 16 said their parents’ phone use causes them to miss important family moments, while 58% wished their parents were more present when they’re together.
Parents Don’t Need to Feel Guilty About Every Phone Use
Not every minute spent on a smartphone is a parenting problem. Phones can help parents communicate, manage schedules, research information, work and occasionally take a much-needed mental break.
Psychology Today points out that technology can also help families connect, learn and relax, particularly when used intentionally. As the article puts it, “screen time can be a friend, even if it is used more than normal.”
The bigger issue isn’t simply whether parents use their phones around their children. Instead, parents can ask whether their phone use is purposeful or whether they’re repeatedly reaching for it automatically when they could otherwise be engaged with their kids.
How Parents Can Break the Phone Habit
The first step is identifying which apps and habits are consuming the most unnecessary time. Parents can check their phone’s Screen Time or Digital Wellbeing settings, then block particularly distracting apps, turn off unnecessary notifications and consider switching the screen to grayscale.
Catherine Price, author of How to Break Up with Your Phone, compares smartphones to “a slot machine” because apps use unpredictable rewards and constant novelty to keep people coming back.
Parents can also decide what they want to do instead of scrolling, whether that’s playing with their children, reading, exercising or simply talking. Creating phone-free periods around meals, bedtime or family activities can make being present easier without requiring parents to give up their phones completely.
