The Parent Coaching Institute (PCI) has released the results of a multi-national survey examining parent and teen perspectives on screen time, smartphone use, and social media. Conducted by Gloria DeGaetano, founder and CEO of PCI, and Christina Gika, a PCI Certified Parent Coach and instructor, the survey included randomly selected parents and teens aged 11-18 from the United States, Greece, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Middle Eastern countries such as Egypt, Bahrain, and Jordan. Most participants were not related. Each survey consisted of 24 questions, with a mix of multiple-choice and open-ended responses.
The goal was to assess whether parents and teens are aligned on screen use, and if not, why. DeGaetano and Gika aimed to understand both perspectives to develop more effective family digital habits and strategies to empower young people. According to DeGaetano, the results were not surprising, mirroring over four decades of research. She stated, “While tech boundaries are absolutely necessary, how they are developed, enforced and sustained by the parents, along with how the teens perceive parental intent, become crucial factors in determining teens' relationship with technology. Across the data, communication style, parental modeling, perceptions of trust, and collaborative boundary-setting appeared to influence how teens experienced and used technology. Our findings indicate that thoughtful parental guidance leads to teens' internal control of their screen use.”
Gika emphasized the importance of relationships over screen time, saying, “What I value most about the findings is that they move the conversation beyond screen time and toward relationship. Our results highlight the importance of trust, communication, and connection in supporting healthy digital habits. For me, it reinforces that a strong parent-teen relationship remains one of the most powerful influences in a teen's life.” DeGaetano added, “When families prioritize connection over control, technology stops being a source of friction and starts being a tool for growth. In the end, the parent-teen bond remains the only truly un-hackable digital safety feature.”
A copy of the white paper is available here for parents and professionals such as counselors, child care directors, and parent educators. PCI, recognized as an innovative leader in family support, was recently featured in an article about parent coaching. The institute offers a year-long online Parent Coach Certification program in affiliation with Southern New Hampshire University. Applications for the 2026 Fall Term, beginning mid-September, are due by September 1. For more information, visit www.ThePCI.org.
