Teens and Tech: Two-Thirds of Parents Think Their Teen Is Addicted to Their Phone [Study]

Parenting comes with its fair share of difficulties, and while technology has made parenting easier in some regards, it also presents new challenges.

As parents of any adolescent know, teenagers are inextricable from their phones, and it’s only becoming more common. According to reports, as high as 95% of teenagers have access to a cell phone, and as a result, today’s parents have to grapple with issues like screen addiction, keeping kids safe online, and more.

To gain a better understanding of how parents feel about mobile technology and their kids, we asked moms and dads to share their thoughts on the age they think kids should be allowed to use different types of tech, which social media platforms they consider most dangerous for kids, and more.

Key findings

• Two-thirds of parents (66%) have been concerned that their teen is addicted to their phone.
• More than two-thirds of parents (68%) are in favor of phone bans in school, while only 13% oppose them.
• TikTok is the social media platform parents are most concerned about.
• A large number of parents fear AI use among teens. 22% of parents said they don’t ever want their children using AI chatbots like ChatGPT.

When do parents think kids should use different tech?

Because harmful content is easier than ever for kids to access, parents must be extra vigilant if they want to ensure that their child doesn’t use different tech devices and platforms before the parent feels it is appropriate. We asked parents how old they think kids should be before they use various tech products.

Chief among parenting fears for their teens was AI. On average, parents said teens should be at least 16 years old to start using ChatGPT and Grok, with nearly 1 in 4 parents saying children should never be allowed to access the AI platforms. Their fears may be somewhat founded: recently lawsuits have surfaced involving OpenAI and mental health advice given to teens.

Similarly, parents thought that on average, teens should be at least 16 to carry their own social media accounts, which have long been criticized as harmful to teens specifically.

While debates about “when to give your child a cell phone” are always going to end at “it depends on you and the child,” on average, parents thought that 14 years old was appropriate. Interestingly, only 2% of parents thought that children under 18 should never have a cell phone.

The social media platform parents find most dangerous

Social media has been around for decades, meaning that kids today have never known a world where millions of people aren’t posting, commenting, and liking things on social media every day. Social media sites and apps vary in their focus and features, and the level of danger they present to kids can vary as well.

Parents say that TikTok is the most dangerous social media platform for teens, with 38% singling it out as the site they are most concerned about. That is more than double the percentage garnered by any other platform. Snapchat was chosen as the most dangerous social media platform by 14% of parents, the second-most of any site.

For parents worried about either of those platforms, there are parental control options for TikTok as well as Snapchat available, which may help provide some extra peace of mind.

How do parents feel about teens and cell phones?

Parents have quicker and easier access to their teens than ever before thanks to cell phones, making things like pickup and scheduling easier than ever. However, those phones also mean that teens have more access than ever to internet distractions, apps, and other potential digital addictions.

For many parents, those addictions are very real, as two-thirds of parents with teenage children say they have been worried their teen was or is addicted to their phone.

Because phones are helpful for safety and communication, it can be challenging to know how to address cell phone addiction in teens. However, monitoring your child’s cell phone usage and helping them develop healthy habits can go a long way in preventing the problem from escalating or even avoiding it altogether.

One limiting factor in how much parents can monitor and intervene in their teens’ phone usage is the fact that many children spend large portions of every weekday away from their parents at school. However, schools around the country have begun instituting cell phone bans during learning hours, including some that make students lock up their phones before entering the classroom.

When asked how they feel about these kinds of policies, more than two-thirds of parents (68%) say they support phone bans in schools, including 40% who strongly support bans. Only 13% of parents oppose cell phone bans in schools, with just 5% saying they are in strong opposition.

Bottom line

Safe and secure access while browsing the web should be something everyone has access to. Here’s how you can start making sure your kid is safe online:

• Take control of digital safety. See which parental control apps provide the strongest protection while keeping your parenting style in mind.
• Stay ahead of online dangers. See in our Bark review why it’s a top pick for modern digital parenting.
• Combine safety and simplicity. Explore how Norton Family makes digital parenting easier without invading your teen’s privacy.

Methodology

All About Cookies surveyed 1,000 U.S. people using a survey platform in August 2025. Responses used for this study were limited to users who are parents.