Posted on 12/21/2025 12:38:41 PM PST by SeekAndFind
For decades, parents and kids battled over predictable issues like unfinished homework and messy bedrooms. Not anymore.
A new national survey shows technology has overtaken chores and schoolwork as the leading cause of parent-child arguments, signaling a major shift in how families clash at home.
Talker Research surveyed 2,000 US parents of children ages 8 to 17, along with their kids, revealing that screen time disputes now dominate family life. The survey was conducted online between Wednesday, Nov. 19, and Tuesday, Nov. 25, and was commissioned by Aura.
According to the findings, 28 percent of parents cite technology use as their top source of conflict with their children.
That outpaces arguments over chores and responsibilities, cited by 25 percent, and homework or grades, cited by 21 percent. Kids largely agree, with 30 percent pointing to phones, games, and social media as the biggest trigger for arguments.
The conflicts are frequent. Nine in 10 parents say they argue with their kids over screen time, and half report these disputes erupt at least weekly. Children confirm the tension, with 87 percent saying they have argued with their parents about technology use, though most say the arguments are brief.
The survey highlights why these battles feel different from old-school family fights. Nearly half of parents say excessive screen time sparks conflict, while 40 percent point to phone use at bedtime. Gaming, device use during meals, and exposure to inappropriate content also rank high.
Parents’ concerns go beyond annoyance. More than half believe their kids spend too much time online outside school hours, and nearly half say technology has negatively affected their children’s emotions.
Those worries are underscored by another finding: 59 percent of kids say they have seen videos showing extreme violence, serious injury, or death in the past year.
Parents have responded with new rules. Ninety-five percent say they have internet-use policies at home, and 97 percent report having talked with their children about online safety. Still, enforcement remains common, with two-thirds confiscating devices when rules are broken.
Dr. Scott Kollins, chief medical officer at Aura, cautioned that punishment alone misses the point. “Restricting devices is more of a band-aid than a foolproof solution when it comes to teaching kids healthy digital habits,” he said. “Kids will find ways around the rules if they’re not being taught self-regulation and the importance of disconnecting from screens or managing their online behavior responsibly.”
The findings suggest that as screens become a permanent part of childhood, parents may need to rethink how they handle the arguments that come with them.
Click here to see the results of the study:
https://talkerresearch.com/everyday-tech-rules-that-keep-families-sane/
Pretty sure TikTok had a lot to do with it and my Ex-Wife’s turn to liberalism during menopause adding fuel to the fire.
Satan invented the cell phone, specifically allowing data usage.
Each kid ought to have their own 80 acres to grow up on and there ought to be 80 acres between each kid.
I am thankful I grew up that way....................
Phones just need an app that gives an electric shock when the parent insists the phone is out of bounds. The severity of the shock could be increased every five seconds.
(Ref: Clockwork Orange)
Lol.
“one issue”
Failure to parent.
Stockholm Syndrome. I have seen more conservatives become liberals because of their Tik-Tok crazed kids and grandkids.
Thankfully, I didn’t have that problem. I divorced my philandering husband 46 years ago, and raised my two sons alone. He was too busy shaking up with his girlfriend to care about his kids, and he got married in the early 80’s. When I took my car to the local Midas Muffler shop here several years ago, they looked my last name up on their computer system, and found his account out in Arizona. He’d gone from being an agnostic, to a Jehovah’s Witness, and never even told his kids he’d moved to out of state. My sons are 59 and 54. They haven’t heard from him for at least 35 years, and they’re definitely much better off without having really known him.
Was in a sit down restaurant the other day and there was a family of four, mom, dad, son and daughter sitting at the next table waiting for their orders. Not a word was being said because all four had their faces buried in their cell phones............
Sin?
I was going to guess “Which of us gets to lead the saying of grace at our family dinner?”
Guess I was wrong.
Sometimes things are staring you in the face. Case in point, the Apple logo on all their devices. An apple with a bite taken out of it. Genesis Chapter 3, anyone?
“technology has overtaken chores and schoolwork”
Ain’t that the truth. My cousin’s daughter was physically addicted to her screen. They live over seas and got her a tablet to keep her entertained on the long overseas flight. She had that thing everywhere. When pops went to take it away for dinner she went ballistic. I had never seen a child have such a temper tantrum for so long. It was a constant battle.
I would have smashed the thing with a hammer
If it weren’t for cell phones. I would have never found such great services like car warrantees and helpful people paying off my IRS debts with Google cards so I didn’t get arrested.
That’s just swell.
Completely agree. Tried to point this out, I’m an engineer after all and diagnostics/fixing things is my bread/butter.
Of course, where emotions get involed... this did not work.
A parents and a child in an argument?
Since when does the child get a vote, or a chance to argue?
Years ago my kid age 12 called 911 on me because I took the phone away. Cops came read her the riot act. This was before smart phone.
I’ve witnessed that too. My favorite example was a young couple that looked very nice, well dressed and well groomed. They appeared to be made for each other. And not a word, both were busy with their devices texting someone else.
A shrink that works at a university told me some of those kids get clinically depressed if they don’t get a text every so many minutes. Some of them will cross streets on campus paying no attention to traffic while their heads are buried in their phones.
Don’t get me going on what excellent spy tools they are for big brother.
Cell phones are indeed evil on several levels.
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