TOPIC TODAY: Are You Charging the Phone or the Child?In 2026, the screen is our teacher, babysitter, and tempter.• Is it realistic to limit a teenager to 1-2 hours when their whole social life is online?• Why do we find it easier to give a child a "Digital Pacifier" than to deal with the "messiness" of their emotions?The Big Question: If we continue to outsource parenting to the "Glass Babysitter," who will our children eventually consider their "real" family—us, or the algorithm?
The crowd at Evking’s Bar is in full swing, but Jide notices something eerie. On the TV screen where a drama is playing, a large family table of four children, ranging from a toddler to a teenager, is sitting in absolute silence. No laughter, no "gist," just the cold, blue glow of four different screens reflecting in their eyes. Their parents are doing the exact same thing.
Jide clinks his glass against the table to get the others' attention. "Look at that," he gestures. "We used to fear the 'Bogeyman' in the dark. Now, the Bogeyman lives in their pockets, and we pay the monthly subscription for him to stay."
JIDE:
Statistics show that kids aged 8-18 spend an average of 7.5 hours a day on screens. That’s a full-time job! If your child were working a 40-hour week at a factory, we’d call it child labour. But since it’s social media, and gaming, we call it "keeping them busy."
OLA:
Jide, be fair. You’ve never tried to drive through the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge traffic with a screaming 4-year-old. That tablet is a lifesaver. It’s the only way to get peace!
JENNIFER:
But at what cost, Ola? When we use screens as "pacifiers" to stop tantrums, we are robbing them of the ability to self-regulate.
If they never learn to be bored, they never learn to be creative. We are seeing more sleep problems, lower grades, and a "Fear of Missing Out" (FOMO) that triggers deep anxiety. We aren't just giving them a toy; we are giving them a digital addiction.
BISOLA:
And it’s not just the time; it’s the content. Parents think they are watching "cartoons," but the algorithm is feeding them violence, sexual content, and stunts that are literally life-threatening. We’ve opened the front door of our homes to every predator and cyberbully on the planet.
NNE:
Look, screens aren't going away. I live on my phone. But even I know that "doom-scrolling" is a trap. The problem is parents have no "Plan." They just hand over the phone and hope for the best.
JENNIFER:
Exactly. You are never too young or too old for a Screen-Time Plan.
• Under 18 Months: Zero screens, except video chats with family.
• 2-5 Years: 1 hour max on weekdays.
• 6+ Years: Focus on "Digital Hygiene" - no screens in bedrooms and no screens 30-60 minutes before bed.
ELDER EPHRAIM:
No screens at the dinner table! That should be Law Number One. How can you know your child’s heart if you are both looking at a piece of glass?
JIDE:
However, the most challenging aspect is the "Mirror Effect." How can I tell my son to drop his phone when I’m checking my emails at 9 PM?
BISOLA:
That’s the key. We have to set the example. We need to use parental controls, yes, but we also need to talk to them. Point out the "fake" in the advertising. Point out the "wrong" in the stunts. Make the screen a bridge for conversation, not a wall for isolation.
OLA (Sighing, putting his phone face down):
Okay, okay. Tonight, the phones stay in the pocket. Let’s see if we still remember how to talk to each other without emojis.
Jide clinks his glass against the table to get the others' attention. "Look at that," he gestures. "We used to fear the 'Bogeyman' in the dark. Now, the Bogeyman lives in their pockets, and we pay the monthly subscription for him to stay."
JIDE:
Statistics show that kids aged 8-18 spend an average of 7.5 hours a day on screens. That’s a full-time job! If your child were working a 40-hour week at a factory, we’d call it child labour. But since it’s social media, and gaming, we call it "keeping them busy."
OLA:
Jide, be fair. You’ve never tried to drive through the Lagos Third Mainland Bridge traffic with a screaming 4-year-old. That tablet is a lifesaver. It’s the only way to get peace!
JENNIFER:
But at what cost, Ola? When we use screens as "pacifiers" to stop tantrums, we are robbing them of the ability to self-regulate.
If they never learn to be bored, they never learn to be creative. We are seeing more sleep problems, lower grades, and a "Fear of Missing Out" (FOMO) that triggers deep anxiety. We aren't just giving them a toy; we are giving them a digital addiction.
BISOLA:
And it’s not just the time; it’s the content. Parents think they are watching "cartoons," but the algorithm is feeding them violence, sexual content, and stunts that are literally life-threatening. We’ve opened the front door of our homes to every predator and cyberbully on the planet.
NNE:
Look, screens aren't going away. I live on my phone. But even I know that "doom-scrolling" is a trap. The problem is parents have no "Plan." They just hand over the phone and hope for the best.
JENNIFER:
Exactly. You are never too young or too old for a Screen-Time Plan.
• Under 18 Months: Zero screens, except video chats with family.
• 2-5 Years: 1 hour max on weekdays.
• 6+ Years: Focus on "Digital Hygiene" - no screens in bedrooms and no screens 30-60 minutes before bed.
ELDER EPHRAIM:
No screens at the dinner table! That should be Law Number One. How can you know your child’s heart if you are both looking at a piece of glass?
JIDE:
However, the most challenging aspect is the "Mirror Effect." How can I tell my son to drop his phone when I’m checking my emails at 9 PM?
BISOLA:
That’s the key. We have to set the example. We need to use parental controls, yes, but we also need to talk to them. Point out the "fake" in the advertising. Point out the "wrong" in the stunts. Make the screen a bridge for conversation, not a wall for isolation.
OLA (Sighing, putting his phone face down):
Okay, okay. Tonight, the phones stay in the pocket. Let’s see if we still remember how to talk to each other without emojis.
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