What you need to understand about reducing your child’s screen time

Parents, take note: The US government warns that apps like TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat, can be harmful to your child’s health. In a 19-page report, Vivek H. Murthy, the chief physician, stated that although social media provides many benefits, like connecting with communities, it can also expose children to cyberbullying, eating disorders, self-injury, and other self-destructive behaviors. He added that social media interferes with physical activities, sleep, and other essential events.

So, what can parents do to help mitigate these harmful effects? Below, we’ve compiled some tips to help reduce screen time.

What tools are available, and where do we find them?

Mobile operating systems like Google and Apple offer free tools that can help reduce screen time on smartphones and tablets. Parents can use these tools to monitor and limit their children’s device usage.

For Android devices, there’s Family Link, which parents can download from the Google Play Store and use to monitor their child’s Google account. For parents who use iPhones and want to monitor their children’s Android phones, the Family Link app for iOS is available.

For iPhones, the iOS includes a feature called Screen Time that can limit a user’s device usage. It can be installed through the iPhone’s settings app, following Apple’s guidelines.

Are these tools useful?

Both tools have their pros and cons.

Google’s Family Link has many benefits, like rejecting apps that the child is interested in downloading and locking the device during certain times, like after 9 pm when the child is sleeping. But Family Link’s significant limitation is that the child can “graduate” and remove the restrictions once they are 13 years old.

For parents who want to keep the restrictions in place, they can log into their child’s Google account and change the age of the child to under 13 years.

Apple’s Screen Time feature was also tested, and parents can use it to set app limits or restrictions. Parents can also set limits on social media and gaming apps utilizing Screen Time. Once the allotted time is up, the app locks, and the parent can decide whether to allow more usage time in the app.

The downside of Screen Time is that parents using it can bypass the restrictions by using their passcode. They may find themselves using more screens than their children in the process.

What other options are available?

There are other apps for Android and iOS available that enable parents to monitor their children’s screen time, although one should use them with caution. Some parental control apps, with lesser-known brands, have been exploited by hackers to stalk users via their geographical locations and microphones. Therefore, parents should make sure that they are using reliable apps like Qustodio and NetNanny, recommended by the nonprofit Common Sense Media, which focuses on family content and safety.

Do social media platforms offer features to limit use?

Yes, social media platforms have features to limit app usage. Instagram offers users a “Relax” reminder, while TikTok introduced its own tool this year to reduce in-app time. However, many people, including youngsters, have found them easy to bypass.