Living Well Online

01Family Digital Culture

There is a debate about what is most important in shaping children's digital behaviour. There is considerable research showing that children from less wealthy backgrounds are more likely to experience passive media consumption and are at greater risk of problematic digital use. Some of this can be explained by unequal access to technology. However, socioeconomic status does not explain everything. Even in Nordic countries and North America, where internet access is widespread and social support systems are among the strongest in the world, researchers continue to find significant differences in how media influences children's lives.

Cross-national research has shown that, even after accounting for factors such as income, internet access, and maternal education, differences in children's digital behaviour remain. This leads to questions like: What is happening inside families that makes the difference? Why do some families take advantage of the opportunities technology offers, while others struggle with media addiction, excessive screen time, or other problematic digital behaviours?

Taking an Interest in Children's Media Lives

One of the most important ways to build a healthy Family Digital Culture is by taking a genuine interest in children's digital lives, rather than simply using devices as an electronic babysitter.

How many times have you seen a parent hand a phone to a young child? What is the original intention in that moment? Is it, "I want to share something fun with my child," or is it, "I really need a break, and this will give me a few minutes of freedom"?

For many families, one of the first experiences children had with media was as a babysitting tool. Over time, it became popular media culture; we started treating it as immediate help and easy entertainment. Smartphones are at the centre of much of today's passive media consumption. They are also the primary device through which children access the internet in most parts of the world. It's a mind-blowing number of hours they spend one-on-one with a device in their rooms, using media primarily as a source of instant entertainment or emotional comfort.

This makes parental interest and involvement more important than ever, and research offers practical ways to create a healthier Family Digital Culture:

• Join your child's digital hobbies. Sonia Livingstone's Parenting for a Digital Future project, based on interviews with British families, found that some parents chose to participate in coding clubs, gaming, or other digital hobbies alongside their children, not because they feared technology, but because they wanted to share meaningful experiences.[1]
• Be a mentor, not just a monitor. Parenting researcher and author Devorah Heitner summarizes this idea with a simple phrase: "mentor, not monitor." Children often understand technology better than adults, but parents bring something far more valuable, life experience, judgment, and emotional guidance. Instead of focusing only on surveillance and restrictions, parents can help children make thoughtful decisions online.[2]
• Show genuine curiosity. One of the simplest yet most powerful things parents can do is ask questions. Children often become excited when talking about the games they play, the videos they watch, the creators they follow, or the skills they are learning online. Showing genuine interest not only strengthens relationships but also helps parents become part of their children's digital world instead of remaining outside it.[3]
• Enjoy media together. Rather than consuming digital media separately, families can occasionally watch, play, or explore content together. A 2025 survey conducted by Savanta for WildBrain found that 85% of U.S. parents considered shared digital media a favourite family bonding activity. While this reflects parents' perceptions rather than proven long-term benefits, shared media can create opportunities for conversation and connection that are less likely to occur when children engage with content alone.[4]

02How to React

Every day, children encounter online experiences that previous generations never had to navigate, from cyberbullying and misinformation to violent or sexual content. Unlike challenges in real life, these moments often happen behind closed bedroom doors. Sooner or later, many children will need help. The question is not whether they will face online challenges, but whether they will feel comfortable asking for it, and how adults will respond when they do.

The research shows that adults often respond to teenagers' online lives with fear, panic, and restrictions rather than understanding. By staying calm and reasonable, parents can save trust and credibility.

03Media Hygiene

While forming new habits and a healthy family digital culture takes time, we can make some adjustments today. However, research doesn't support one set of rules that fit every family. For example, turning off Wi-Fi completely at 7 pm may seem like a great solution for parents, but it may feel like a punishment for children and lead to tension and mistrust. On the other hand, setting healthy and realistic limits that every family member can commit to may be a long-term healthy solution.

There are some ideas to start with; choose one to make a change:

• Create something together instead of only consuming content.
• Have a digital detox one day a week
• Turn off notifications for a weekend
• Leave phones at home when going out for an hour
• Move chargers outside the room, have a common charging station for all devices
• Set realistic limits, increased over time
• Wait for a positive change and use rewards
• Turn off the devices two hours before bedtime
• Reward healthy habits rather than relying on punishment

The main goal is to prepare children to live in a connected world, where they can thrive and lead, not to be fed digital garbage and suffer from addictions. Little steps where they can feel the benefits of self-regulation and choosing what's best, when there is no support and guidance.