Column: OBA’s Smith On ScreenTime & More
[Opinion column written by the OBA's Ben Smith]
Whether you are a parent, guardian or anyone who interacts with children and teens, chances are you have asked yourself multiple times, “Are cell phones helping our youth or are they doing more harm than good?”
Trust me, you are not alone. I hear this all the time from adults and sometimes teens, who admit they spend too much time online but don’t know how to stop.
Today’s life moves faster than ever, and let’s be honest, sometimes screens are used to fill gaps when needed. When adults have to navigate long work hours and struggle to afford or attain childcare, a phone or tablet can keep a child occupied and safe at home.
This is a reality many face, and it’s nobody’s fault.
More adults that some care to admit, are simply fighting for survival by any means necessary.
And as much as we love them, phones can create big problems.
As adults, we are losing focus, rest, imagination, and the time we spend truly connecting with each other.
Across Bermuda, teachers, coaches, and parents are seeing the same trends.
Attention spans are shrinking. Kids jump from one short video to the next and find it hard to stay focused in class or during practice.
Amongst other things, they are sleep deprived. Devices in bedrooms mean messages and videos late into the night or trying to reach a game high score instead of getting shut eye.
Extra screen time leads to tired students, and ultimately impacts learning.
The opportunity for viewing adult content is always the click of a button away. Even without searching for it, children can stumble upon violent or sexual material on social media feeds.
Without guidance this content can have a detrimental impact on their development and how they navigate their future relationships.
In this hectic world when parents are stretched thin, many families simply don’t have the time, space, or tools to monitor everything their child sees online. None of this means you’re failing as parents, It means you’re facing new challenges that didn’t exist when we were growing up. The truth is, this problem is bigger than any single home it’s something we have to tackle together as a community.
Not every household has the same routines or resources. Some parents can be home after school. Others are working double shifts or caring for relatives, so the solutions have to work for everyone and not just those with extra time or money.
Here are some solutions that can help:
Encourage the young person in your life to start small. Even 30 minutes of phone-free time in the evening. No phones during dinner, or while getting ready for bed can make a difference.
Check in with them. Initiate meaningful conversations. Spend more time laughing and talking and less time liking and sharing on social media.
Set a “digital bedtime.” If a complete phone ban feels impossible, try to set a time that all devices are charged outside of the bedroom. Out of sight, out of mind. I know some will say they use their phone for an alarm but we used to have alarms before we had phones, so lets get back on track.
Use the built-in tools to protect children from harmful content. Every phone and tablet has free parental controls and no fancy app is needed. You can block adult content, limit app use, and filter videos.
If you can’t be home after school, talk with a neighbour, older sibling, or grandparent who can be present. Community support is what Bermuda has always been good at.
Talk to children about what they see. Kids might not tell you when they stumble onto something violent or sexual but you can open that door to the conversation. Let them know they can always come to you without fear of punishment.
Instead of strict rules that feel like punishment, create “family screen goals.”
Teachers have seen the increase in distrations, more fidgeting and less focus in class so schools have been forced to keep up with the impact of increased screen time. Many are creating phone-free classroom and advocating phone-free schools.
Community organisations, clubs, and churches can play a big role as well. Imagine after-school programmes where kids can play, study, and talk instead of scrolling.
As Shadow Minister for Education and Sport, I believe our response has to match the scale of the challenge. What I would do.
- 1. Clear national standards for digital safety in schools balancing technology use with student well-being.
- 2. Community partnerships that make after-school programmes and youth spaces more accessible, so screens aren’t the only option.
- 3. Better protections online so it’s harder for violent or sexual content to reach children in the first place.
This is about fairness, not finger-pointing. Every family deserves the chance to raise children safely in a digital world whether you’re a single parent working nights, a two-parent household juggling schedules, or a grandparent helping out.
If you’re reading this and thinking, “I can’t keep up. I don’t have time to watch everything my child does,” please know, you are not alone. Most parents feel the same way.
Start with one change this week. Pick one small step that fits your routine. Maybe it’s turning off the Wi-Fi at a certain time. Little by little, it makes a difference. If you already feel you’re out of options, reach out to your child’s teacher, coach, church leader, or a community group. Raising children has always taken a village, and that hasn’t changed, the challenges just look a lot different now.
Phones and tablets aren’t going away and neither is our responsibility to guide children to use them responsibly and safely. Whether you have a lot of time or barely enough to catch your breath, there’s something each of us can do to help. Let’s not divide families by who can afford time or tools. Let’s build a community where every child from every home learns how to use technology wisely, safely, and with purpose.
If we work together as parents, teachers, neighbours, and policymakers we can make sure Bermuda’s kids grow up confident, kind, and connected in the right ways. That’s the Bermuda we all want to see.
- MP Ben Smith, Shadow Minister for Education & Sport
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