Screen time and social life: aim for balance
Healthy and balanced screen time and digital technology use can help children build and maintain relationships with their peers, friends and family, and learn social skills. But for children of all ages, it’s important to balance socialising online with opportunities for face-to-face socialising.
This article is about socialising with real people, not with AI chatbots. Some people use AI chatbots to talk to and for support, but children who use AI chatbots could miss out on some of the benefits of socialising. Also, there are serious risks associated with children using AI chatbots. For more information, see eSafety Commissioner – AI chatbots and companions – risks to children and young people.
Screen time and social life: preschoolers
It’s best for young children to interact with others face to face. This is how they learn about non-verbal cues, eye contact, body language and other social and communication skills.
But screens can help your young child build relationships and learn skills too, especially when your child can’t interact face to face. For example:
- Video chat and conferencing platforms like Zoom, Teams or FaceTime can help your child keep in touch and build relationships with family members who live a long way away.
- Age-appropriate multiplayer video games or apps can help your child develop social skills like taking turns and playing as part of a team with people they know in real life.
- Shared screen time builds your relationship with your child. For example, playing a game or watching a show together turns screen time into family time, especially when you talk about what you’re playing or watching.
It’s best to watch or play too when your child socialises online.
Screen time and social life: older children, pre-teens and teenagers
Screen time and digital technology can help your older or teenage child build relationships and develop social skills in several ways:
- Digital technology can help your child connect with others and build relationships. Instant messaging or voice chat in online multiplayer games can do the same, when your child is playing with people they know.
- Using fitness or activity tracker apps can encourage your child to interact with others through physical activity. For example, many fitness tracker apps allow people to do shared challenges and motivate each other to meet goals.
- Multiplayer video games or apps can help your child develop social and problem-solving skills. For example, playing games like World of Warcraft, League of Legends, Clash of Clans and The Sims lets your child work as part of a team.
If your child is aged 16 years or older, social media might be a part of their social life. If they’re aged under 16 years, they’ll be affected by the Australian Government’s Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024, which restricts social media access. Read more about the social media ban and how to help your child handle it.
Screen time and social life: staying safe and being responsible for all ages
If your child socialises online, it’s important for them to do it responsibly. This means staying safe, treating others with respect, and blocking or unfriending those who don’t treat them with respect. It’s also important for your child to ask you or another trusted adult for help if they feel unsafe or uncomfortable socialising online.
Here’s where you can read more about children and teenagers staying safe and being responsible online: