Social media habits may limit parent-child communication
Image credit: chadmadden via Unsplash
A recent study published in the journal Frontiers in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry highlights how parents’ online behavior can influence their offline interactions with children. Researchers found that mothers who spent more time on social media spoke significantly less to their kids during play than those who used social platforms less often. The difference persisted even when the mothers weren’t actively using their phones. The findings highlight the importance of mindful technology use, especially during moments meant for parent-child interaction.
Source
Chamam S, Forcella A, Musio N, Quinodoz F, Dimitrova N. Effects of digital and non-digital parental distraction on parent-child interaction and communication. Front Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2024 May 21;3:1330331. doi: 10.3389/frcha.2024.1330331. PMID: 39839318; PMCID: PMC11748799.
Additional Reading
https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/13/health/parents-social-media-use-affects-kids-wellness
https://www.aol.com/parents-social-media-could-affect-160026005.html