Balancing screen time with quality family time can be a daily challenge for many families. With children increasingly using devices for various activities like learning, socializing, gaming, and streaming, determining a reasonable amount of screen time can be difficult.
In an effort to promote online safety within families, a campaign called The Family Chat, in collaboration with Tesco Mobile, is being conducted throughout 2026. Author and podcaster, Giovanna Fletcher, is engaging in discussions with parents and children about the challenges they encounter, how they are addressing them, and the valuable online safety resources provided by Tesco Mobile.
One of the resources available is a downloadable family pledge, where families can agree on simple commitments regarding healthy screen time practices and ensuring children’s safety online. Giovanna emphasizes the importance of regular review of screen time rules, highlighting that engaging in other activities beyond phone use is vital, especially for younger children.
For the Karley family, consisting of Anna, Emmanuel, and their three children, phones are essential tools for communication, schoolwork, and managing their busy schedules. However, with three teenagers who often seem absorbed in their devices, the family is eager to approach screen time discussions in a positive and engaging manner.
To facilitate conversations about screen time, the Karleys participated in the Team Mum v Team Dad Online Safety Challenge. Divided into two teams, they completed various challenges without using their phones, such as ranking screen activities against offline pursuits like cooking and reading. Subsequently, they committed to implementing their learnings by filling out Tesco Mobile’s family pledge.
Moving forward, Anna and Emmanuel plan to utilize the expert advice and resources from Tesco Mobile’s Online Safety Hub to establish a healthy balance between digital engagement and real-world interactions within their family. They have already implemented a phones-down rule at 9.30pm to allow more quality family time, engaging in activities like playing quizzes together.
In addition to these efforts, it is important to be cautious of certain online content, including sensational headlines, suspicious websites, and posts that evoke strong emotions. Teaching kids how to verify social media accounts and engaging in fact-checking activities together can help promote online safety and critical thinking skills.