Post Reports Parents want to cut kids' screen time. Can it work?
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Nov 25, 2025 Caitlin Gibson, a reporter with The Washington Post focusing on families and parenting, shares insights on managing children's screen time. She discusses rising parental concerns about the impacts of excessive screen use on mental health. Caitlin highlights research connecting social media with depression and suggests practical tips for setting boundaries. Parents face challenges when limiting devices, from toddler tantrums to teen resistance, but she offers strategies to ease the transition and adapt to post-pandemic routines.
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Early Social Media Predicts Later Harm
- Research now links early social media use to rising depression and physical health risks in children.
- Jason Nagata's longitudinal studies show increases in social media predict later depressive symptoms and physical risk markers.
All Screens Aren't The Same
- Even low daily social media use (about an hour) in children under 13 links to poorer cognitive outcomes two years later.
- Not all screen time is equal: social media poses different risks than watching a movie.
Parents Pull Devices After Noticeable Harm
- One mom removed an iPad after her toddler had a meltdown instead of going to the park and quickly reduced requests for it.
- A dad also stopped gamified language apps after noticing compulsive asking and replaced them with other learning methods.