Survey finds most parents argue with kids over screen time, not social plans

A new survey finds that nine in 10 parents argue with their kids about technology use, with about half reporting the topic comes up at least weekly.

The poll of 2,000 U.S. parents of kids aged 8 to 17 found that 87% of children say they have argued with their parents about technology, and 61% say those arguments last only a few minutes.

The study identified the main triggers as too much screen time at 46%, bedtime phone use at 40%, gaming at 28%, devices during meals or family time at 28%, viewing or engaging with inappropriate content at 25%, and social media use at 25%.

Outside of school, 56% of parents believe their kid spends too much time online, and 46% believe technology has had a negative impact on their kids emotions. About 59% of kids say that if they were in their parents shoes, they would also be concerned about what their online activities reveal, including seeing virtual videos in the past year that show extreme violence or serious injury.

Dr. Scott Kollins, chief medical officer at Aura, notes that families face a confusing landscape as kids are introduced to the digital world at a young age. He emphasizes that online-safety conversations should be proactive, casual, non-judgmental, and ongoing, with the door always open for kids to voice concerns about online life and real-life issues.

Eighty-seven percent of parents feel technologically savvy enough to talk to their kids about online risks and properly manage their kids digital footprint, and for the vast majority (95%), the approach begins with having rules about internet use in the home. The most common rules include that all digital purchases require parental approval (64%), time limits on devices (50%), no devices until after homework and chores (49%), and parents knowing all passwords (47%). Other rules include no social media until a certain age (43%), no devices in family group settings (39%), and no Wi-Fi at certain times of day (19%).

When rules are broken, a majority of parents respond by removing devices (66%), while others reduce screen time (42%), and check in on their child to see if they are struggling with something (34%).

Seventy-one percent of kids say they feel their parents are aware of online safety, while 25% believe their parents are too strict and 4% say they are too lax.

About 38% of respondents said the arguments with parents lead to devices being taken away at least once per month, leaving many kids frustrated (56%) or annoyed (50%).

Experts caution that restricting devices is not a foolproof solution for teaching healthy digital habits. Parents should focus on self-regulation and positive online behavior, while maintaining open lines of communication that connect online life with real-life relationships at home.

It is common for families to rely on rules as a starting point, but the survey suggests that more work is needed to teach kids how to disconnect and participate in activities outside the digital realm.

The research methodology: Talker Research surveyed 2,000 American parents of kids aged 8 to 17 who have access to the internet. The survey was commissioned by Aura and conducted online by Talker Research between November 19 and November 25, 2025. A link to the questionnaire was provided with the study.