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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

It worries me how much time my kids spend on screens

5 replies

Dotsandstars · 20/02/2026 11:19

I feel they are addicted to it but not sure if there is much we can do about it. Any advice welcome.

DD1, 18 in a gap year. Got A star, A, A. Works part time, and is off to university in September, does her laundry, makes her own lunches, sleeps in until late on her days off, goes to bed late. I feel she has become more lazy and spends lots of time watching shows, she says she also reads books on the screens, listens to music. Doesn’t have any hobbies or goes out much.

DD15 has screen times, limit on the hours she uses on her mobile phone to 5.5 hours per day, off at 9 and back at 7 during school days; but uses the ipads after, watching shows or listening to music, while getting ready. She likes buying and selling clothes in vinted, It does seem to be impacting her as has been late yo school a few times in the last few days. She enjoys socialising and goes out more.

They seem to be constantly on it, they even use it when eating alone. Not when we eat together.

Is there anything we can do or is this the new generation? DH says they have to get over it.

Wifi goes off at 10:30pm and id back at 7am.
I think DD1 uses her data after.

Do I just need to let them be?

OP posts:
Dotsandstars · 20/02/2026 11:31

bump

OP posts:
EatYourDamnPie · 20/02/2026 11:42

Your 18yo is an adult, working , and off to uni soon. What do you realistically think you can do about it?

With the 15 yo it depends whether it impacts her sleep, studies, behaviour etc. You can try and impose restrictions like homework/chores done first and encourage some family time.

What do you do in your free time? How much time do you spend on screens?

Dotsandstars · 20/02/2026 11:50

EatYourDamnPie · 20/02/2026 11:42

Your 18yo is an adult, working , and off to uni soon. What do you realistically think you can do about it?

With the 15 yo it depends whether it impacts her sleep, studies, behaviour etc. You can try and impose restrictions like homework/chores done first and encourage some family time.

What do you do in your free time? How much time do you spend on screens?

Thank you.

Good advice, agree with both for DD1 and DD2.

On my free time I go out with friends, go to the gym, walks or outings with DH, not into Netflix but occasionally watch a show in the BBC with Dh. I use my phone for music and listening things about personal growth, read books.

OP posts:
EatYourDamnPie · 20/02/2026 12:12

Just make sure you don’t create a problem where there isn’t one just because of how you think things should be.

SunnyRedSnail · 20/02/2026 12:14

My 15 year old gets his phone from 7am until 9pm. He can have 1.5 hours access to all apps (no social media) and then once that runs out he can access educational apps and whatsapp only.

If he wants any additional screen time it is open to negotiation based on homework having been done, music practice, sports etc... he needs to balance activitites.

After 9pm he can watch TV downstairs, but no tablet/phone/gaming!

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