Wake-up call for digital parents: look in the mirror

Parents concerned about their disengaged teenagers staring at a phone for hours on end might want to take a look in the mirror.

Mother and daughter Stella Moessis and Crystal Coulits in Sydney’s Pyrmont on Monday. Picture: Nikki Short

Parents concerned about their disengaged teenagers staring at a phone for hours on end or being consumed by social media might want to take a look in the mirror.

A new survey of screen-time habits finds almost 50 per cent of Australian parents spend more than one hour a day on screens in front of their teenage children, and nearly one in six spends three hours or more looking at their phone, laptop or other device while their kids are present.

The survey of 1015 adults with children aged between 12 and 18 also finds one in three parents are engaged on social media for at least an hour a day, with 13.4 per cent scrolling their feed for more than three hours a day.

“Parents constantly say one of their biggest concerns is how much time their kids spend on their devices, but this research highlights the disconnect between those concerns and their own behaviour,” said Kerrie ­Buhagiar, director of service ­delivery at online mental health service ReachOut, which commissioned the survey.

“This is not about blaming parents or making them feel guilty. They may be on a screen for work, or for organising their family or for social reasons,” Dr Buhagiar said. “But the role-modelling for their children is important.

“We see this survey as a chance for parents to take a step back and perhaps be more mindful about their own behaviours, and open up a conversation with their family about how technology can be used in a more positive way by everyone.”

Beauty therapist Stella Moessis admits it was hard to criticise her 13-year-old daughter, Crystal, for spending too much time on her phone, when she herself spent about 50 per cent of her free time checking for new jobs, or scrolling Instagram, newsfeeds, old photos and even the weather on hers.

“I’d see her in her room looking at her device. I’d come in and say no more, but then I realised I was doing pretty much the same,” Ms Moessis said.

Dr Buhagiar said it was important for families to set guidelines about how and when they access social media in the home.