I have tried many tactics/strategies depending on my own free time, mother guilt and energy over the years.....my experience or advice is be guided by your teen. Even when I have given my teens free reign on screen time they will mostly remove themselves from devices and even say, we need to get moving and get some air and escape the Internet. I think by establishing a good active lifestyle routine they crave movement and we talk about how they feel after spending hours on social media or Xbox, they feel totally drained and recognise that it's good for some down time but not the only source of interaction/entertainment. They do even get frustrated when going to a friend's and they spend all their time glued to their phone, I take that on board and put down my mobile and listen!!! We talk a lot about how technology makes us feel, fear of missing out, rejection, also how to improve how we interact and read the cues for when technology isn't working. So many issues to ponder here but what didn't work was putting limits or cutting off internet time (unless there was a serious problem) it only caused resentment, conflict and "binge" screen time...... I also like how I learn about my teens by observing them on social media, their "likes" their friends, we are connected in a way that is the norm now, a forum full of information.
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