Parents are told all the time how important it is that kids not get too much screen time. But how much is too much? How do you know when you’ve reached that point? And — most importantly — how do you get your kid to actually step away from the screen? We break down recommended screen time by age, plus tips to help your child put down their screens when time is up.
While headlines often depict screen time as a black-and-white issue, suggesting immediate dire consequences if your child exceeds screen time limits by even a minute, the actual research is less conclusive and expert recommendations are more nuanced.
Here are the current guidelines from the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP):
If the lack of definitive guidelines for older children, teens, and tweens leaves you feeling like you’re floundering in the dark, don’t worry. There’s still plenty of expert guidance to help you determine when your child is getting too much screen time so you can adjust accordingly.
Here are some signs to watch for:
Below, we’ll walk through some tips to set boundaries around screen time in and around the home. It’s a good idea to lay out these rules in a digital device contract that you discuss with your kids and revisit as they grow older.
For preschool- and elementary-aged kids, parents should still be fairly involved in their screen-time routine.
Tips for younger kids:
By the time kids reach their middle school years, parents can start giving a little more leeway, but should maintain plenty of hands-on involvement.
Tips for tweens:
The teenage years are a time for preparing to be an adult while still under the watchful eye and protective wing of actual adults. Teens still need some guardrails, but it’s important they start learning how to manage their own screen habits.
Tips for teens:
Regardless of your child’s age, here are some tips to help limit their screen time:
Screens are an unavoidable part of modern life, but it’s important that children develop healthy limits around their use. Parents should adjust their approach as children age to help them maintain balance and learn how to manage screen time on their own.
The internet might not be made for porn, but it’s certainly a prime breeding ground for it. This means parents should prepare themselves for the likely possibility their child will someday be caught with porn. (If you’re reading this, it’s probably already happened to you.) Before you freak out and attempt to burn down the internet, take a breath and read on for tips on how to talk to kids about porn.
There are many ways your child might come across porn. Their friends could send them videos, or they may stumble onto adult social media profiles. They could click on a link without realizing what it is, or find porn through a mix of natural curiosity and the power of Google.
Sexual curiosity and exploration are normal parts of childhood development. However, pornography presents a fake and distorted representation of sex, which can skew expectations for sexual relationships when they’re older.
Similarly, viewing porn can negatively impact the way kids think about bodies and sexuality (both theirs and their future partner). It’s also worth mentioning that porn is a popular avenue for scams and malware, so there are practical concerns as well.
So, if your child was caught with porn, don’t freak out — take action.
At this point, you may be thinking, “How do I not freak out? Because I’m definitely freaking out right now!” Here are some tips for starting the conversation, setting up safeguards, and monitoring your child going forward.
Most children will naturally feel some shame about watching inappropriate material, but shame around sex can be detrimental. Your goal should be setting boundaries for your child without making them feel bad about their actions.
Consider your family’s values. Identify which ones are compromised here and use that to frame the conversation with your child.
Here are a couple conversation-starters using values language:
You knew an article on kids watching porn wouldn't be complete without a reminder of the importance of discussing sex with your children. There are appropriate ways to discuss sex at any age, and experts recommend starting before your child can even talk. (Yes, you read that right.) If you haven’t already had “the Talk,” now’s the time to start.
In addition to talking to your child about what’s off-limits online, take the time to set up parental controls — features that limit your child’s ability to access certain websites and explict content. This should be done on devices, individual apps such as YouTube, and internet browsers.
A monitoring service can help keep an eye on your child’s internet use. BrightCanary uses advanced technology to scan your child’s online activity and alert you to any issues. If your child encounters adult content on their social feeds, searches for inappropriate material, or is sent an explicit message, BrightCanary will let you know.
Ideally, parental controls are set up before your child starts using their devices on their own. It's not too late to add these settings after the fact, though. It's better to have some supervision in place than none at all. While these tools and settings don’t replace your involvement, they’re a great tool (and give you added peace-of-mind).
Let's face it: porn isn't going anywhere, and neither is your child's curiosity, even after you've had "the Talk" with them. Start a practice of regular check-ins where you sit down and look at things like their YouTube and browser histories with them. Make it clear it’s not a punishment, but a way for you to keep them safe.
The mere fact that your child viewed porn isn't necessarily alarming, but it can become problematic if porn use begins to affect your child’s emotional, physical, social, and academic health. Pornography can be associated with addictive behaviors — if you’re concerned about your child’s behavior, speak with a mental health professional.
Additionally, certain behaviors could suggest potential abuse. For example:
If you suspect your child is being abused, it’s important to investigate and consider involving legal or mental health professionals. StopItNow.org offers a free online help center that can connect you with additional information and guidance about next steps.
From porn websites to social media, pornography is an ever-present part of the internet. Parents should take proactive steps to talk to their children about porn, and use parental controls to limit the exposure they have online. If kids do encounter explicit material, it’s important to talk to have a conversation about it — and steer kids toward healthier ways to learn about important topics like sexuality, consent, and family values.
When your child uses YouTube, you’re probably most concerned with the appropriateness of the videos they watch and their screen time limits. While these are both important, parents also need to understand the risk that strangers might contact their child on the platform. Read on to learn what to look for and how to minimize the stranger danger on YouTube.
Online predators are a risk anytime your child uses the internet, with as many as 20% of children contacted by an online predator last year alone. Platforms that allow users to interact are prime places for predators to solicit kids. While YouTube recently removed their direct messaging feature, there are still several other avenues for communication that parents should know.
Here are the various methods strangers may use to talk to your child on YouTube:
When your child comments on a video, other users can then respond to that comment. When this happens, your child will receive an alert in the app and by email, depending on their notification settings. This may not have the same sense of immediacy as a direct message, but it’s still an effective way for strangers to contact your child.
In addition, the public nature of the comments section can give the illusion of safety. But predators are sneaky in the tactics they use to build trust. What begins as seemingly innocent public communication can result in a request for private contact information and rapidly grow into something more concerning.
YouTube Lives are videos that creators record and share in real time. During the live stream, users can interact with the content creator and with each other. This level of contact presents all the same threats as the comments section, with the added risk that immediate back-and-forth communication can quickly escalate.
If your child has their own YouTube channel and adds their email address to their About Page, other users can then reach out to them directly.
Many YouTubers add their social media handles to their About Page so subscribers can follow them on multiple platforms. If your child is an aspiring YouTuber, or simply wants to emulate their favorite creators, they may follow suit. This means strangers are just one click away from finding your child on platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, where they can learn more about them (and their whereabouts) and contact them through direct messages.
Here are some tips for minimizing the risk that your child will be contacted by strangers on YouTube:
For users under 18, parents can set up a supervised family account, which allows them to adjust their child’s settings (such as removing contact information and correctly listing their age) and view their comment history.
Children under 13 automatically don’t have access to the comments section of videos and are unable to participate in YouTube Live chats. Here’s how to verify and adjust your child’s age setting on their YouTube account.
If your child is 12 or under, consider YouTube Kids. Not only are the videos curated for younger audiences, there are no comments sections or YouTube Lives. Even better: BrightCanary can monitor YouTube Kids.
If your child is old enough to view the comments section, encourage them to select “top chat.” This view will filter out potentially harmful messages. It’s not foolproof, but it can help.
Have an honest, age-appropriate conversation with your child about the risks of talking to strangers online and the ways they may be contacted via YouTube. Encourage them not to engage with people they don’t know in real life and to alert you if anything makes them uncomfortable.
If your child is the recipient of unwanted communication on YouTube, report the comment. (Even better: empower your child to do so themselves.) Reports can lead to a comment being removed or even the deletion of the offending user’s account.
Regularly sit down with your child to look at their YouTube together. Check out their watch history and view some of their favorite creator’s videos together. Use the opportunity to keep an eye on their activity and to establish open lines of communication.
BrightCanary can help make your check-ins easier: as a parental monitoring app, BrightCanary monitors your child’s YouTube searches, videos, and posts. The tool uses advanced technology to summarize your child’s online activity and alert you when your child encounters something concerning, so you can talk about it together.
Like all online platforms that allow users to interact with each other, your child may be contacted by strangers on YouTube. This presents risks, but parents can take steps to lessen the danger and protect their kids.
It will come as no surprise to parents that YouTube is all the rage with kids. In fact, recent research suggests that nine out of 10 kids use YouTube, and kids under 12 favor YouTube over TikTok. With all of YouTube’s popularity, how can you make the platform safer for your child? Read on to learn how to set parental controls on YouTube.
As the name implies, YouTube is a platform for user-generated content. While this creates an environment ripe for creativity, it also means there’s a little bit of everything, including videos featuring violent and sexual content, profanity, and hate speech.
Because YouTube makes it easy for kids to watch multiple videos in a row, there’s always the chance your child may accidentally land on inappropriate content. In addition, the comments section on YouTube videos are often unmoderated and can be full of toxic messages and cyberbullying.
Due to the risks, it’s important that parents monitor their child’s YouTube usage, discuss the risks with them, and use parental controls to minimize the chance they’re exposed to harmful content.
YouTube offers a variety of options for families looking to make their child’s viewing experience as safe as possible. Here are some important steps parents can take:
A supervised account will allow you to manage your child’s YouTube experience on the app, website, smart TVs, and gaming consoles.
There are three content setting options to choose from:
Along with content settings, here are some additional YouTube parental controls to explore:
For step-by-step instructions for setting up parental controls, refer to this comprehensive guide by YouTube.
While YouTube offers an impressive array of parental control settings, you have to manually review your child’s content and watch history in order to catch any concerning content.
BrightCanary is a parental monitoring app that fills in the gaps. Here’s how BrightCanary helps you supervise your child’s YouTube activity:
For parents looking for additional peace of mind, YouTube Kids provides curated content designed for children from preschool through age 12.
For households with multiple children, parents can set up an individual profile for each child, so kids can log in and watch videos geared toward their age. YouTube Kids also allows parents to set a timer of up to one hour, limiting how long a child can use the app.
Parents should be aware that switching to YouTube Kids isn’t a perfect solution. There’s still a chance that inappropriate content may slip through the filters.
In fact, a study by Common Sense Media found that 27% of videos watched by kids 8 and under are intended for older audiences. And for families concerned about ads, YouTube Kids still has plenty of those — targeted specifically toward younger children. Keeping an eye on what your child is watching and talking to them about inappropriate videos and sponsored content is still a good idea, even with YouTube Kids. Fortunately, you can also monitor YouTube Kids with BrightCanary.
It’s also worth noting that kids under 12 who have a special interest they want to pursue may find YouTube Kids limiting. A child looking to watch Minecraft instructional videos or do a deep dive into space exploration, for example, can find a lot more options on standard YouTube — plenty of which are perfectly appropriate for kids, even if they aren’t specifically geared toward them. It’s cases like this where parental controls and active monitoring are especially useful.
YouTube is a popular video platform with plenty to offer kids. It’s not without risks, though. Parents should monitor their child’s use and take advantage of parental controls to ensure a safe, appropriate viewing experience.
What are your resolutions this year? Start an exercise routine? Learn a new skill? Make regular date nights an actual thing? As you write your list for 2024, don’t forget to include New Year’s resolutions for parents to help you keep your kids on track with reasonable device use and a responsible social media presence.
Here are some suggestions to add to your 2024 resolution list:
Sit down with your child on a regular basis to look at their device. View some of the content they’re consuming, including their social media feeds with them. During your check-ins, talk to your child about how to use their values to inform responsible online decision making. Regular tech check-ins not only help you keep an eye on your child’s online activity, but they also set a precedent of open communication — making your child more likely to come to you if they run into a problem online.
Our kids are watching. And if they see us glued to our phones nonstop, it’s much harder to enforce reasonable device restrictions for them. Practices like no-phone zones, device “bedtimes,” and screen-free family dates are great ways to model appropriate digital behavior for our children.
Cyberbullying is an unfortunate reality of modern childhood — one that can have serious consequences for kids. But there are steps you can take to help your child navigate these tricky waters. For more information on talking to your child about cyberbullying, check out our comprehensive guide.
Digital device contracts are an effective way to enforce household expectations and help your children use technology safely and responsibly. You can download our customizable device contract template here. We suggest including things like daily time limits for devices, rules around websites they can visit, and the expectation they respond promptly to texts and calls from parents.
There’s no substitute for hands-on monitoring of your child’s online activity. But a service like BrightCanary can help fill in the gaps. Using advanced AI technology, BrightCanary scans your child’s text messages and online accounts, alerting you to concerning content so you can address it.
Between the parental controls already available on Apple and Android devices and the options available on specific apps, caregivers have a lot of ability to customize what their child can access online. For more information and platform-specific guides, check out our parental controls resource page.
It’s as important as ever to talk to kids about stranger danger, but much of the risk has moved online with as many as 20% of children contacted by an online predator last year alone. It’s never too early (or too late) to have the conversation. Here are some tips to get you started.
The start of a new year is the perfect time to set goals, establish new habits, and devise an action plan. While planning your 2024 goals, consider how you can play a more active role in your child's online life, whether they're getting their first phone or are already a pro at using their tablet. You’ve got this, parent!
The BrightCanary Breakdown series distills research about kids, the internet, and social media into essential takeaways.
A recent study by the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital (C.S. Mott) surveyed parents of children ages 0-4 about how they use social media to discuss their children and share ideas related to parenting.
Many parents reported that social media is a useful parenting resource. However, the vast majority of parents (72%) also identified at least one aspect of social media sharing that worries them, including privacy issues.
What strategies do parents use to mitigate the risks of posting about their kids on social media? And what can the rest of us learn from the results?
Here’s what the study found.
In August 2023, C.S. Mott enlisted Ipsos Public Affairs, LLC (Ipsos) to conduct a nationally representative household survey. The survey was administered to a randomly selected group of parents with at least one child aged 0-18 living in their household.
C.S. Mott then compiled a report based on responses from 614 parents with at least one child aged 0-4.
Because the study data was based on self-reporting, there’s a risk of response bias. It’s unclear from the report if any measures were taken to mitigate this risk.
The study found that a majority of parents (57%) use privacy settings to restrict who can see their posts. About 30% of respondents avoid posting photos or videos of their child altogether, while an additional 5% block out their child’s face.
Other measures that parents report taking to address privacy concerns include only participating in closed groups (22%) and using their child’s initials instead of their name (5%). One-third (31%) of parents report not discussing their child at all on social media.
There are many compelling reasons for parents to limit social media sharing about their children.
For one, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence brings with it the very real concern that images posted on social media can be used for nefarious purposes such as deepfakes. In addition, pictures of children may attract the attention of child predators.
Another issue for parents to consider is their child’s autonomy. Posting pictures of children contributes to their digital footprint when they're still too young to make their own decisions about their online presence.
Here are some actions parents can take to address privacy concerns related to their child’s social media presence:
Research by the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital reveals parents’ concerns over the privacy and safety of their children on social media. Parents can proactively address these concerns by teaching their children about the importance of carefully considering what they post and setting their own and their child’s accounts to private.
Even if you’ve never heard of sadfishing, you’ve probably seen it. It’s the teary-eyed selfie with a vague caption like, “Why is this happening to me?” Or the lengthy overshare that feels uncomfortable to read. It’s usually followed by scores of supportive comments.
Sadfishing isn’t uncommon among tweens and teens, but as a parent, it’s hard to know how to react to this behavior. Read on to learn how to differentiate between attention-seeking behavior and a genuine cry for help, along with tips on discussing sadfishing with your child.
Sadfishing refers to social media posts intended to solicit sympathy. The sadfish meaning comes from phishing, an online tactic where someone attempts to “fish” information from a person in order to scam them. With sadfishing, the goal is to catch sympathy, not personal data.
While teens and tweens who sadfish may be exaggerating their emotions, it’s important not to dismiss these posts out of hand. Underneath the overly dramatic optics are usually real emotions and a genuine need for support. The poster simply may not have the tools to seek attention and support in a more effective way.
Sadfishing takes many forms: posts, stories, direct messages, and group chats. It includes original posts, as well as sharing sad posts from others and indicating it applies to themselves as well. The language is often intentionally vague, but it can also involve emotional oversharing. For example, you might review their activity on your child safety app and notice that they're looking at a lot of depression memes on Instagram.
It’s important to note that not every post your kid makes about a hard topic is sadfishing. If they break their arm and post a selfie of their arm in a cast, for example, they’re most likely just sharing their life with their friends.
Behavior crosses into sadfishing territory when posts become a pattern or when the intensity of the post doesn’t match up with what you’re seeing in their life. Another possible sign of sadfishing is when your child obsessively checks for comments and likes on their post.
It’s a good idea to talk to your child about sadfishing, even if they aren’t engaging in this behavior.
Here are some talking points to consider:
Sadfishing exists on a continuum from mild to serious. If you discover your child is participating in this behavior, the first thing to do is determine the level of seriousness so you can act accordingly.
Here are three levels of sadfishing and how to respond:
When your child makes frequent and vague sadfishing posts, but there’s nothing big happening in their life and they seem fine otherwise, they may be in need of attention but don’t know other means to seek it.
Some ways to address this are setting aside more time to spend with them, being intentional about demonstrating your interest in their lives, and helping them organize regular get togethers with friends.
When your child’s posts involve oversharing or dwelling on a negative topic and differ from their regular posts, they may need direct support in a particular area. Perhaps they’re having trouble in school or with friends. Talk to them about their posts, offer your support, and inquire about areas of their life where they may be struggling.
If your child’s posts reference self-harm, suicide, or other extreme behavior, it’s important to take prompt action. Seeking expert guidance and engaging the help of a mental health professional is strongly advised. The National Suicide Hotline is also an excellent resource.
Sadfishing posts are intended to seek sympathy and support. They can range from mild attention seeking to serious cries for help. Parents should talk to their kids about sadfishing and keep an eye out for this behavior so they can address it accordingly.
If your child is experiencing suicidal thoughts or a mental health crisis, please reach out immediately to the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or by texting or calling 988 from a cell phone. These services are free and confidential.
Winter break: that time of the year when we bake cookies and wrap presents and … listen to our children beg for extra screen time. (Or is that just me?) If you’re dreading the impending device battles when your child is out of school, you’re not alone. Read on for ideas on how to handle school holiday screen time rules.
Consider your family’s plans for the break and decide on your priorities. Perhaps you have family coming to visit, and it’s important to you that your kids not be glued to their screens while Grandma’s here. Or maybe you cherish certain seasonal activities like playing in the snow or decorating a Christmas tree.
The screen-free activities you want to prioritize during this time of year can serve as a framework for making screen time decisions. That way you’re plugging in screen time around the things you value, creating a sense of adding on, rather than taking away.
As a parent, it’s easy to view screen time as a necessary evil. But for many kids, it can be a valuable rest for their brain.
As adults, we often unwind from a long day in front of the TV or playing a game on our phone, and kids are no different. Recognizing that a little extra screen time during break may help your child return to school refreshed can help reframe the issue for you.
Consider using screen time as an opportunity to teach your child about their brain. Mention how hard they’ve been working at school and that you’re letting them have some extra screen time as a brain break. Couple this with a discussion about additional ways they can unwind, such as reading or playing.
Screen time habits are best viewed as a whole, not by looking at one slice of time. If you’ve decided to be more lenient with devices over break, try to let go of any accompanying guilt. The limits you set on a regular basis are more important than what happens on any individual day.
By the same token, if you feel it’s best to stick with your regular screen time limits during break, that’s okay, too. You don’t have to give your kids extra screen time when they’re out of school just because their friends get it. Do what’s right for your family.
Experts are clear that not all screen time is created equal. The AACAP recommends encouraging using screens in ways that build connections with family and friends. Family movie night or playing video games with a sibling are two ideas for using screens to foster togetherness.
As with most things in life, moderation is the key. Rather than giving your kids carte blanche over their devices, adjust the limits you already have in place. It’s best to remain firm on things like screen-free zones and no-device times, such as family meals.
From ice skating to gingerbread houses to marathon reading sessions, winter break is the perfect time for fun activities that are hard to fit in during school. If you give your kids plenty of options that don’t involve a screen, you might even find they don’t use all their extra device time at all.
Going into break, sit down as a family and talk about what screen time will look like while school is out. Explain that, while there may be some extra screen time, there will still be reasonable limits. If there are days during break where you anticipate no time for screens (such as a visit from relatives or a trip to the mountains), give your kids a heads-up. Most children can roll with things a lot better if they know what to expect.
Winter break is a fantastic time for engaging in some extra fun. A little additional screen time can be one piece of the pie, but make sure to set clear expectations and sprinkle in other activities as well.
You knew this time would come, and now the day is finally here: your kid’s first phone. Before you wrestle with the wrapping paper, stick on a bow, and prepare yourself for preteen squeals of delight, there are some important things to do first. A first phone for kids is a big step, but with some proper planning, you’ll set them up for success by teaching healthy tech boundaries.
Be clear with your child that a phone is a big responsibility and that your job as a parent is to provide them with the guardrails they need to learn how to manage it.
The rules and expectations you set will depend on your child’s age and maturity level, as well as your family values. Some common rules involve when and where the phone can be used, what it can be used for, and who it can be used to communicate with.
A phone opens up a whole new world of independence for your child, but with that comes the need for safety. Talk to them about why they shouldn't share their phone number with everyone, and only talking and messaging with people they know in real life. This is also a great time to discuss staying safe from online predators.
Your supervision helps teach your child an important lesson: a device isn't private. Unlike writing in a diary, anything they send or share online can be exposed to the world. When they don't understand this, they can fall into difficult social situations or become vulnerable to exploitation — even sextortion. Protect them by staying involved in their early online experiences and offering the guidance they need to navigate this new responsibility safely.
Regular tech check-ins are a great way to keep tabs on what your child is doing on their phone. It’s also helpful to establish clear lines of communication so they feel comfortable coming to you for help if they run into trouble.
Sit down with your child on a regular basis to look at their phone together. Check out things like text messages, browser history, and apps.
In the beginning, it helps to put these check-ins on the calendar until it becomes a habit. Even if your child is tempted to hide some material when they know a check-in is coming, some oversight is better than nothing.
While there’s no substitute for the hands-on approach of regular tech check-ins, it’s also impossible for parents to catch everything. That’s where a service like BrightCanary is a lifesaver.
BrightCanary uses AI technology to scan your child’s activity on YouTube, Google, TikTok, and Instagram. The app alerts you to any red flags that need your attention, so you can talk about them together.
Before you hand over their shiny new phone, set up an account on BrightCanary and explain to your kids why and how it will be used.
If your child is already using a tablet or other device, you’ve likely already set some rules around where and when that device can be used. But the portable, fits-in-your-pocket nature of a phone can make it tempting to pull their phone out at any time and place. Emphasize that the same screen-free times and zones apply to their phone. For example: no devices in the bedroom, at the dinner table, or in the car.
Take advantage of the parental controls built into your child’s new phone. The options will vary depending on the device, but a few to look for are screen time limits, downtimes when the device can’t be used, content restrictions, and app restrictions.
Good news if you’re giving your kid an iPhone: Apple devices have robust parental controls that you can set up as soon as your child has their own iCloud account.
After you’ve decided on the rules and expectations around your kid’s new phone, write it into a digital device contract. This document helps make sure everyone is on the same page and emphasizes the importance of the things you’ve agreed upon.
Your child’s first phone can feel like a huge milestone. But it doesn’t have to be scary. Set yourself and your kid up for success by laying the groundwork ahead of time.
There’s no shortage of celebrity parents sharing the cute pictures and adorable antics of their offspring online. But this group of eight famous moms and dads stands out for their especially mindful approach to digital parenting. Their strategies range from rules about posting their children's images to deciding if and when their kids can access the internet
As parents, we often spend a lot of effort monitoring our kid’s digital lives, but it’s also important to be considerate of our own online choices. Our kids are watching, after all. It’s this intentional approach to parenting and social media that we love most about Chrissy Teigen.
Once dubbed the “Queen of Social Media,” Teigen is known for being especially personal with what she shares. But for all her openness online, Teigen refuses to post anything about her kids that might embarrass them one day. We love when parents are respectful of their children’s digital footprint.
In recent years, Kate Winslet has become a fierce advocate for stricter enforcement of social media age limits. Winslet cites the impact of social media on children’s mental health as she calls for the government to step in and make platforms increase their security checks to ensure kids aren’t skirting the rules on age.
Jennifer Garner understands the pressure to let kids use social media — especially when their friends are all online. But she’s made the intentional decision not to let her kids open accounts just yet. She talks openly about the pressures kids face on social media (even when they don’t have famous parents) and how she wants to insulate her kids from that for the time being. We might not all make the same decision as Garner, but we can all appreciate the importance of thoughtfully considering our digital parenting decisions.
Celebrities: they’re just like us. Well … Victoria Beckham may exist on a different plane than the rest of us mere mortals, but she definitely relates to being terrified of her kids joining social media. And, in an effort we particularly appreciate, she and husband David Beckham monitor every post their son Brooklyn makes now that he’s joined the ranks of the digitally connected.
Ryan Reynolds understands the importance of setting screen-free times at home. He shuts down all devices at three specific times each day in order to be fully present with his kids and his wife, Blake Lively. We love the way this not only fosters connections, but also sets a great example for kids. Way to go, Dad!
We love so many things about the way Kristen Bell parents in the digital age, including her and her husband Dax Shepard’s decision to not post their kids' faces on their own very public social media accounts. But it was her recent sharing of this post on her Instagram stories that really got us thinking. She used the share to encourage parents to look their children in the eyes and show them that “they deserve more respect and dignity than a fancy metal box.” Oof. That one really hits home.
Alanis Morisette uses her platform to encourage her audience to develop greater connections, including speaking on panels about conscious communication in the digital age. But it was the video for her song, “Ablaze,” featuring distinctly analog moments of family connection and a message about supporting our kids to be the best versions of themselves that had everyone on the BrightCanary team tearing up — some of us (who me?) multiple times.
When it comes to striking a balance with kids and technology, Gisele really gets it. While she acknowledges that technology can bring about connection, she also cautions that it should be used in moderation. It’s because of this that she limits her childrens’ iPad time and encourages them to get outside instead. She also has a strict no gadgets at the dinner table rule. "This is a time we use to reconnect and catch up about our day," Gisele said in an interview with Marie Claire.
