Screen time versus family time is a delicate balance that many families struggle with daily. In today’s digital age, children use their devices not only for learning and staying connected but also for entertainment, blurring the boundaries of what constitutes a reasonable amount of screen time.
To address this issue, a campaign called The Family Chat is being conducted throughout 2026 in collaboration with Tesco Mobile. The campaign aims to promote open and honest discussions within families about online safety. Author and podcaster Giovanna Fletcher is engaging with parents and children to explore challenges they encounter, how they are managing them, and how Tesco Mobile’s online safety resources can be beneficial.
One valuable resource offered is a downloadable family pledge that allows families to establish simple agreements regarding healthy screen time habits and online safety measures. Giovanna emphasizes the importance of regularly reviewing and adapting rules around screen time within her own family to ensure a healthy balance.
For the Karley family, consisting of Anna, Emmanuel, and their three teenage children, phones play a crucial role in staying connected, managing school responsibilities, and navigating their busy lives. To approach the topic of screen time in a positive manner, they participated in the Team Mum v Team Dad Online Safety Challenge. Divided into teams, they completed various challenges without using their phones, such as ranking screen activities against offline activities like cooking and reading.
After completing the challenges, the Karleys committed to implementing their newfound knowledge by filling out Tesco Mobile’s family pledge, outlining agreements on screen time, privacy, and sharing. They plan to utilize the expert advice and resources available on Tesco Mobile’s Online Safety Hub to strike a balance between their digital and real-world interactions. Implementing a phones-down rule at 9.30 pm, the family aims to prioritize quality family time, engaging in activities like quizzes together.
In addition, the campaign highlights key indicators to watch out for in online content, such as sensational headlines, suspicious websites, and stories lacking credibility. It encourages parents to teach their children how to verify social media accounts and engage in fact-checking activities collaboratively.