There are so many opportunities that I can get here that I am not able to get anywhere else.
A quick weekly bite on the apps, trends, and tools your teen is using — plus tips, resources, and events to help you stay in the know.
This week: check your teen’s Screen Time settings
Both iPhones and Androids have built-in tools that show you how your teen is actually spending time on their phone. Not to spy, but to start a conversation.
To view a usage breakdown by app and category, plus average daily/weekly use, complete the following steps:
iPhone: Settings → Screen Time → See All Activity.
Android: Settings → Digital Wellbeing & Parental Controls. Same idea — a dashboard of app usage and time spent.
From there, you can also set daily limits on specific apps or schedule downtime— like during homework or after 10 p.m.— if that’s something your family wants to try.
Try this: Pull up the report together and ask your teen what surprised them. It tends to open up a much better conversation than starting with a rule.