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Parents and teens probably use their phones the same amount of time, study says
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Teens arent the only ones using their phones in abundance. A new report found that parents spend almost as much time on their phones as teens and tweens. - photo by Herb Scribner
Teens arent the only ones using their phones in abundance. A new report found that parents spend almost as much time on their phones as their teens and tweens.

The report, done by the organization Common Sense, found that parents spend close to nine hours a day on their screens. Adults use their phones for their jobs at least 1.5 hours of the day. The other 7.5 hours, though, are used doing the same kinds of things their kids do sending texts, playing video games, watching shows, browsing websites, checking in on social media often while at work, according to Time magazine.

Michael Robb, the director of the research, told Time its fair to say that parents use their phones as much as their teens.

Were not trying to make parents feel guilty, Robb told Time, but we are trying to make them more aware.

Research from Common Sense Media found that teens spend about nine hours a day on their phones, according to The Washington Post. Tweens spend closer to six hours a day.

Teens mostly use media during those nine hours, either watching videos or listening to music. This takes up about a third of a teens day.

Of course, the 1,786 parents interviewed for the study recognized the dangers of too much screen use.

The majority of parents (about 56 percent) expressed concerns that their teens and tweens would become addicted to their phones. About 43 percent said they were concerned their child spent too much time online and 36 percent feared their child had access to online pornography, according to the study.

But 78 percent of parents said they are good role models for their children, especially if they use digital media and tech devices.

Parents hope their children use less screen time, too, even though they dont always resist their own phones.

The sheer amount of media and technology in all of our lives makes it challenging for parents to monitor their own use, Robb said, and their kids use.

Teens do use their smartphones a lot. A Pew Research Center report found that 24 percent of teens go online almost constantly, which is mostly due to their smartphone use. Almost 75 percent of teens have "or have access to" a smartphone, with only 30 percent having a basic phone.

In total, 91 percent of teens said they go online with their smartphones at least occasionally, with 94 percent saying they do so daily or often, according to Pew.

Experts have worked to help parents find ways to limit their teens' tech use. Medical professionals from the American Academy of Pediatrics set guidelines for how much screen time children should have, according to CNN.

For children 2 to 5, the AAP recommends one hour per day. The AAP said parents can figure out restrictions for children who are 6 and older.

"Even though the media landscape is constantly changing, some of the same parenting rules apply," Dr. Yolanda Reid Chassiakos, lead author of the "Children and Adolescents and Digital Media Technical Report, wrote in a press release. "Parents play an important role in helping children and teens navigate the media environment, just as they help them learn how to behave offline."

Chassiakos said its important for parents to encourage face-to-face interactions as often as possible, since those will create intimate bonds for families. Chassiakos also said parents should practice tech-free bedrooms, forcing children to use technology and the internet in the living room, where they can be monitored.

This practice also allows parents to make sure their children do their homework rather than focus on entertainment.

But parents, especially those who use tech, can still engage with digital media with their children, she said.

"This doesn't mean you can't play video games with your kids," she said. "What's most important is that families have media-free time, and when digital media is used, it's used mainly for communication rather than entertainment."
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How to avoid 'sharenting' and other paparazzi parenting habits
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A recent study revealed parents often spend up to two hours staging a single photo of his or her child to post online. - photo by Amy Iverson
Before having kids, some people just dont appreciate their friends baby posts. But after having a child of their own, three fourths of new parents jump right on the parental social media bandwagon. If you have become a member of this group, there are some rules to follow for posting responsibly.

Much of a parents worry is how to teach their children to use social media responsibly. We talk with our kids about privacy, oversharing, and setting restrictions on their devices to keep them safe. But parents themselves need to look in the digital mirror once in a while. Before having children, it doesnt take as much effort to think about what to post online. Its up to us to decide what we share about our own lives. But once you become a parent, there are many questions to think about regarding what is appropriate to post about your kids on social media.

In a recent survey, kids clothing subscription company Mac and Mia surveyed 2000 new parents to find out how they are documenting their kids lives on social media, and what concerns they may have.

First of all, people without children seem to feel a bit differently about the onslaught of baby pictures online than those who are parents. 18 percent of people say before they had kids, they were annoyed by their friends baby posts. But after having children of their own, 73 percent admit they post progress pictures of their little ones every single month.

Not only are new parents letting the world know each time their baby is a month older, but they are posting about their kids every few days or so. Men and women report they post 6-7 times per month about their baby.

And while 70 percent of new parents say the benefit of using social media is how easy it is to help family and friends feel involved, there are some downsides. Here are a few tips to avoid the pitfall of becoming paparazzi parents.

Dont miss the moment

In the Mac and Mia survey, some parents admitted to spending up to two hours to get the perfect shot of their baby. That seems a little extreme. New and old parents alike should be careful about spending so much time taking pictures and videos that they dont enjoy the moment. Years ago, I decided to never live an experience through my phone. A study by Linda Henkel, a psychology professor at Fairfield University in Connecticut, found that when people took pictures of objects in an art museum, they didnt remember the objects as well as if they simply observed them.

This photo-taking impairment effect can happen to parents as well. If we are so consumed by getting the perfect photo, we can miss out on the moment all together, and our memory of it will suffer.

Dont forget about privacy

60 percent of couples say they have discussed rules and boundaries for posting their babys photos, according to the Mac and Mia survey. Even so, men are 34 percent more likely to publish baby posts on public accounts. If parents are concerned about their childrens privacy, keeping photos off of public accounts is a given.

In the Washington Post, Stacey Steinberg, a legal skills professor at the University of Florida, and Bahareh Keith, a Portland pediatrician, wrote that sharing too much information about kids online puts them at risk. They write that all that sharenting can make it easier for data thieves to target out kids for identity theft. Check that your privacy settings are where they should be and never share identifying information like full names and birth dates.

Dont be paparazzi parents

36 percent of parents say they take issue when their childs photo is posted online by someone else. Responsible social media users will always ask permission before posting a photo of another child. But parents should also think about whether their own children will take issue with their own posted photos a few years down the road.

When parents are constantly snapping pictures and throwing them on social media, it can be easy to forget to pause and make sure the post is appropriate. I always use the billboard example with my kids. I ask them to picture whatever they are posting going up on a billboard in our neighborhood. If they are okay with that, then their post is probably fine. Parents should ask themselves this same question when posting about their children. But they should also ask themselves if their child would be OK with this post on a billboard in 15 years. If it would cause embarrassment or humiliation, it might be best to keep it private.

Once children reach an appropriate age, parents should include them in the process of deciding what pictures are OK to post. Researchers at the University of Michigan surveyed 10- to 17-year-olds and found children believe their parents should ask permission more than parents think they should. The kids in the survey said sharing happy family moments, or accomplishments in sports, school and hobbies is fine. But when the post is negative (like when a child is disciplined) or embarrassing (think naked baby pictures or messy hair), kids say to keep it off social media.
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