Fifth of parents think children addicted to technology

Over a fifth of parents (21.1%) think their child has a technology addiction, according to a survey by gadget insurance provider, Protect Your Bubble.

The research looked into tech consumption among children and found that the majority of parents long for more family time, with nine in 10 (86%) wishing non-tech activities were a regular feature in their lives.

Family walks were the most popular activity that British parents would like to do more of (44%), followed by eating dinner together (41%). In a close third place, 40% of parents wish their kids would simply talk to them more without being distracted by gadgets.

The findings chime with the Children’s Commissioner Anne Longfield’s January report, Life in Likes, which stated social media is exposing kids to significant emotional risks. It also found that in today’s world, playground peer pressure is often related to being constantly contactable and connected.

There also seems to be a degree of peer pressure when it comes to technology ownership. A seventh (15%) of parents have splashed out on technology in the hope their children will fit in. On average, parents have spent £348.30 on tech for their kids, with 17.9% feeling the pressure to do so.

Meanwhile seven in 10 (69%) mums admit their children’s excessive tech usage winds them up, while a further 70% of parents noted their kids’ bad tech habits and their carelessness around loss, damage and theft has caused them unnecessary stress.

Says James Brown, director of gadget insurance provider Protect Your Bubble:

“With over a fifth of parents fearing their child has a tech addiction and seven in 10 admitting their kids’ tech usage winds them up, perhaps it’s time to give gadgets a break.

“Interestingly it seems most parents crave quality time with their children, free of distractions.

“As technology evolves we’ve seen the amount of time spent on traditional family activities steadily decline, but the longing to do so has remained the same. How we spend our family time might have changed but the instinct to something that brings us closer together is still key to family life.

• Over a fifth of parents (21.1%) think their kids have a tech addiction
• Nine in 10 parents (86%) long for more family time, wishing that they did more activities with their children  
• A further fifth (21.8%) are annoyed at their kids being distracted by tech
• Despite this, 15% splash out on new technology in the hope their children will fit in while 18% feel pressure to buy the latest devices and tech
• Seven in ten (70%) parents explained that their child’s tech usage and carelessness around loss, damage and theft causes them unnecessary stress