The Parent Coaching Institute (PCI) has released the results of a multi-national survey examining screen time, smartphone use, and social media among parents and teens. Conducted by PCI Founder and CEO Gloria DeGaetano and PCI Certified Parent Coach Christina Gika, the survey included respondents from the United States, Greece, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Middle Eastern countries such as Egypt, Bahrain, and Jordan. Parents and teens aged 11 to 18 were randomly selected, with most not related to each other.
The survey comprised 24 questions, primarily multiple choice with some open-ended responses. Its goal was to assess whether parents and teens share the same perspectives on screen use and, if not, to explore why and what could be done to align them. DeGaetano and Gika believed that understanding both viewpoints could lead to more effective family digital habits and strategies to empower young people.
“The results were interesting, but not too surprising,” DeGaetano said. “They mirrored what we know from over four decades of research. 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.”
Key findings indicate that communication style, parental modeling, perceptions of trust, and collaborative boundary-setting significantly influence how teens experience and use technology. The data suggests that thoughtful parental guidance leads to teens developing internal control over their screen use, rather than relying solely on external restrictions.
Gika emphasized the relational aspect: “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.” The full white paper is available here for parents and professionals such as counselors, child care directors, and parent educators.
The Parent Coaching Institute, recently featured in an article about parent coaching, offers a year-long online Parent Coach Certification program in affiliation with Southern New Hampshire University. Applications are being accepted for the 2026 Fall Term, beginning mid-September, with a deadline of September 1. More information is available at www.ThePCI.org.
For business and technology leaders, the survey underscores that effective digital governance in families—and by extension in organizations—requires more than policy enforcement; it demands trust, modeling, and collaboration. As technology continues to permeate work and home life, these findings offer a blueprint for fostering healthier, more productive relationships with digital tools.
