Amid heated debates about children and technology, a new Pew Research Center report provides a snapshot of how U.S. parents navigate the daily challenge of screen time.
The survey of 3,054 parents with children 12 or younger, conducted in May 2025, found that screens are nearly unavoidable in family life. Nine in ten parents say their child watches TV, while 68% report tablet use and 61% say their child uses a smartphone. About one-quarter of parents say their child has their own phone, a share that jumps to 57% among 11- and 12-year-olds.