Balancing screen time and quality family time can be a daily challenge for many families. With children using devices for various activities like learning, staying connected, gaming, and streaming, determining a reasonable amount of screen time can be complex.
In 2026, The Family Chat campaign, in partnership with Tesco Mobile, aims to promote open discussions within families about online safety. Author and podcaster Giovanna Fletcher engages with parents and children to address challenges they encounter and how Tesco Mobile’s online safety tools can be beneficial.
The campaign offers a downloadable family pledge for families to commit to healthy screen time habits and ensuring children’s online safety. Giovanna emphasizes the importance of monitoring phone usage and encouraging kids to engage in diverse activities apart from screen time.
For the Karley family, consisting of Anna, Emmanuel, and their three teenagers, phones are essential for communication, schoolwork, and managing their busy schedules. Seeking a balanced approach to screen time, they participated in the Team Mum v Team Dad Online Safety Challenge, engaging in activities to raise awareness about screen time and privacy.
After completing the challenges, the family pledged to implement what they learned by committing to the family pledge provided by Tesco Mobile. They plan to utilize Tesco Mobile’s Online Safety Hub for expert guidance on maintaining a healthy digital-life balance.
Implementing a phones-down rule at 9.30pm, the Karley family aims to prioritize family time, engaging in activities like quizzes together. By adhering to the family pledge and working collaboratively, they seek to establish new rules and strengthen family connections.
In addition to the campaign activities, families are advised to watch out for sensational headlines, suspicious websites, and misleading content online. Teaching children to verify social media accounts and engaging in fact-checking exercises can help promote online safety and critical thinking.