Balancing screen time and quality family time can be a daily challenge for many families. With children using devices for various activities like learning, gaming, and staying connected, determining a reasonable amount of screen time can be tricky.
In an effort to promote online safety discussions within families, the 2026 campaign called The Family Chat, in partnership with Tesco Mobile, aims to encourage open and honest conversations at home. Author and podcaster Giovanna Fletcher engages with parents and children to address their challenges and share how Tesco Mobile’s online safety resources can be beneficial.
One of the resources provided is a downloadable family pledge, allowing families to establish commitments regarding healthy screen time habits and online safety practices. Giovanna emphasizes the importance of regularly reviewing rules around device usage to ensure balance.
For the Karley family, consisting of parents Anna and Emmanuel and their three teenagers, phones are essential tools for communication, schoolwork, and managing their busy lives. To make discussions about screen time engaging, the family participated in the Team Mum v Team Dad Online Safety Challenge, completing activities that highlighted the balance between screen and offscreen activities.
Following the challenge, the Karley family committed to implementing what they learned by filling out Tesco Mobile’s family pledge. They plan to utilize Tesco Mobile’s Online Safety Hub for expert advice in maintaining a healthy digital-life balance. Implementing a phones-down rule at 9.30 pm, they aim to prioritize family time by engaging in activities like quizzes together.
In addition to setting guidelines around screen time, families are advised to be cautious of sensational headlines, verify information from reliable sources, and educate children on verifying social media accounts for authenticity. Fact-checking games and challenges can also be helpful in promoting digital literacy within the family.
