Parents overwhelmingly think using social media does more to harm than benefit their kids | Pew Research Center

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October 3, 2025

How Parents Manage Screen Time for Kids

Parents overwhelmingly think using social media does more to harm than benefit their kids

Parents overwhelmingly think using social media does more to harm than benefit their kids

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Parents overwhelmingly think using social media does more to harm than benefit their kids

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How Parents Manage Screen Time for Kids
Majorities of parents say their kids use tablets and smartphones; watching TV is especially common
Roughly 6 in 10 parents overall say their child uses or interacts with a smartphone, and about 4 in 10 say this about their child under 2
About 1 in 4 parents say their child has their own phone, and more than half of those with an 11- or 12-year-old say so
A majority of parents say their children, including those under 2, watch videos on YouTube
More parents say their child under 2 watches YouTube than in 2020
15% of parents say their kid uses TikTok
Parents overwhelmingly think using social media does more to harm than benefit their kids
Ease of contact, entertainment and learning are key reasons parents allow phones; most who don’t allow them worry about inappropriate content, safety
Screen time is a daily priority for most parents, but fewer say it’s the biggest one
About 4 in 10 parents say they could better manage their kid’s screen time
About 1 in 4 parents say their child has their own phone, and more than half of those with an 11- or 12-year-old say so
Ease of contact, entertainment and learning are key reasons parents allow phones; most who don’t allow them worry about inappropriate content, safety
More parents say their child under 2 watches YouTube than in 2020
Ease of contact, entertainment and learning are key reasons parents allow phones; most who don’t allow them worry about inappropriate content, safety
Ease of contact, entertainment and learning are key reasons parents allow phones; most who don’t allow them worry about inappropriate content, safety
About 1 in 4 parents say their child has their own phone, and more than half of those with an 11- or 12-year-old say so