How Parental Stress Fuels Doomscrolling

Getting a first smartphone has become a modern rite of passage for many children and teens. And with the rise of social media and the constant need to stay connected, today's kids are spending more time online than any other generation. But parents are often just as glued to screens as their children, and many are concerned that their own tech habits are straining family relationships and affecting their mental health. In fact, a 2024 report from the U.S. surgeon general found that 48% of parents say their stress is completely overwhelming on most days. In this episode of "After the Fact," Pew expert Jessica Roark discusses why screens and social media can have a negative impact on mental health. And Andrea Davis, founder and CEO of Better Screen Time, shares strategies to help families build and maintain healthy tech habits.

You can listen to How Parental Stress Fuels Doomscrolling online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

How Parental Stress Fuels Doomscrolling is an episode from After the Fact by The Pew Charitable Trusts.

This episode is 22:38 long.

This episode was published on Feb 27, 2026.

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