Study finds most parents use phones during family dinners
By Lauren Wilkin
In light of the news that the UK plans to ban social media for under-16s, there has been a huge focus on screen time among children and teenagers.
But what about the parents?
A study has revealed that over 75% of parents use some form of media - often smartphones - during family dinners.
Michelle Drapkin, a board-certified psychologist, has spoken out, saying that: "As a psychologist and a [mom] who works with a lot of parents, I can tell you that devices are one of the biggest issues I see in my practice."
The report, published in the journal JAMA Pediatrics, surveyed over 350 parents.
77.7% of them reported using media during their last family meal - and the most common type was smartphone use.
On top of this, 70% of the parents also reported that their children (aged 4-10) engaged in media use as well.
Now, a psychologist is speaking out about the real impact this has on children, saying that devices are a big issue.
"And parents are usually guilty themselves," [Drapkin], founder and director of The CBT Center, a group CBT practice in Highland Park, New Jersey, says.
"The thing is, parents are always [modeling]. And, kids are watching and learning implicitly, even when nothing is being said out loud."
"If you're on your phone at dinner, they absorb that as the norm, the same way they absorb how you treat people, how you handle stress, how you show up in the world," [Drapkin] explains.
But a key issue comes when children are trying to engage with a parent who's on their phone.
"When a child tries to connect and a parent is distracted, one of two things happens: they either give up, or they escalate to get attention, which often means negative attention."
"Have you ever felt sad and lonely in a room full of people? That's what kids experience."
This is because children need face-to-face, eye-contact connection, [Drapkin] says. "And dinner is one of the few places in the day where that can actually happen."
But [Drapkin] warns parents aren't just missing out on their kids.
"You're missing out on your own life," she warns. "Being present adds so much to our experience. The little things are the whole thing."
"My advice? Don't just put the phone down. Put it away. Away away. If something urgent comes up, be transparent about it and contain it," she says.
"What devices take from us is mindful awareness and intentionality, and those are worth protecting."
To protect their dinner times, [Drapkin] says "One simple thing our family does at dinner is Rose, Bud, Thorn."
"Rose is the highlight of your day, Thorn is something sticky or hard that happened, and Bud is something you're looking forward to."
"We go around the table and everyone shares. We've done it most of my daughter's life, and now her friends do it with us when they're around."
She says: "It takes maybe five minutes and it creates real conversation. No phone can compete with that."
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This story was originally published June 26, 2026 at 2:36 PM.