New Study Uncovers: Technology is Stealing Precious Moments for Families

As parents, we're fighting a war against technology – and we're losing. According to a new survey conducted by Talker Research on behalf of AngelQ, the average parent faces nearly 500 screen time battles every year. That’s more than one conflict every single day, adding up to a staggering 96 hours a year spent fighting with our kids over technology.

But the real danger isn't just the arguments – it’s what’s at stake.

According to a new survey of 2,000 parents of kindergarten through fifth graders, 67% of parents fear they’re losing precious moments with their children due to screen addiction. Even more worrisome, 41% of parents said they’re afraid they’re losing their little ones’ childhood to technology completely. 

The internet is a predator’s playground and a minefield of dangerous content. Yet, 59% of parents admit their kids’ internet use is unsupervised. Parents are unknowingly giving our kids the keys to a world that is unsafe, addictive, and designed to exploit their attention.

Parents’ Top Fears: The Real Dangers of Technology

• Predator Exposure (51%): Online predators lurk behind seemingly innocent apps and games.
• Accidental Inappropriate Content (46%): Just one innocent click can expose your child to violent or sexual material.
• Screen Addiction (45%): Screens are engineered to be addictive – and our kids are paying the price.
• Cyberbullying (44%): A single hurtful message can shatter their self-esteem with dire consequences.
• Age-Inappropriate Content (40%): They’re exposed to things they shouldn’t even be thinking about yet.
• Social Media Influence (37%): Warping their sense of self-worth and feeding anxiety.
• Mental Health Damage (37%): Increased anxiety, depression, and emotional instability.

We know that too much screen time is robbing our kids of crucial social skills and emotional development. About three in five parents (61%) worry that too much screen time is replacing important elements of childhood development, such as building strong social skills and empathy.   It’s more than just a battle over how long they’re on their devices – it’s a battle for their future and wellbeing.

“Our kids are losing years of their childhood – precious time they’ll never get back – to exploitive products that addict them,” said Tim Estes, CEO and Co-Founder of AngelQ. “We believe technology should educate and empower, not divide families and drain childhood from our kids. We’re here to help parents take back control.”

The Battle is Real – and It's Costing Us More Than Time

When our kids fight to keep their devices on, we give in 65% of the time. Parents are overwhelmed. It’s more than just sneaking screens – it’s hacking parental controls, creating new accounts, and using voice commands to bypass restrictions.

The consequences are frightening:

• Irritability (27%): Tech withdrawal causes mood swings and tantrums.
• Mood Swings (24%): The highs and lows of digital overexposure.
• Decreased Attention Span (19%): Struggling to focus on homework and offline activities.
• Anxiety and Sleep Issues (14%): Their minds never stop racing.

It’s no wonder that 52% of parents who allow internet access regret doing so too soon. This regret was most prominent among Gen Z parents (63%), followed by millennials (53%) and Gen Xers (50%). 

The Truth: Technology Shouldn’t Steal Precious Moments

What if there was another path forward?

What if technology could be used for good as a tool?

Despite these challenges, parents acknowledged positive aspects of screen time, including watching their kids explore their interests (60%), access to educational content (59%), the ability to learn lifelong digital skills (58%), increased inter-cultural awareness (25%), and the opportunity to connect with other like-minded children online (24%).

We’re not saying screens are evil – we’re saying the way they’ve been built and used today is. There’s a better way. We’re building tools that put parents back in control, turning technology from a source of conflict into a tool for connection and learning.

“We’re committed to helping families set boundaries that work, so technology remains a tool for enhancing childhood, not taking away from it,” Estes said.

It’s time to reclaim our kids’ childhoods from tech giants who profit off addiction. We can't just shut off access to technology for our kids. The genie is out of the bottle. We must rely on tools that provide a safe and enriching childhood for kids and ready them for the digital world that they live in. Join AngelQ and discover how we’re building a safer digital future for your family.