Hello, we’re Ea, Elana and Gaby, students from Devine conducting a research project about how people around parents — such as friends, family members, or peers — influence their views and decisions about screen time for children.

This survey is for anyone who is not necessarily a parent but interacts with parents or young families in their daily life (for example, friends, siblings, cousins, or coworkers).

The goal is to understand how social circles shape opinions and behaviours around children’s screen time — what people think, how they react, and how much influence they might have.

Your answers are completely anonymous and will only be used for educational research. The survey takes about 7 minutes to complete.

Please answer honestly — there are no right or wrong answers.

Section A: Background

1. What is your age?

Under 20

2. Do you have children?

Yes

3. Do you regularly spend time with friends or family who are parents?

Yes

4. How would you describe your lifestyle?

Mostly working

Section B: Opinions on Screen Time

5. How would you describe your overall view of screen time for children?

Mostly beneficial

6. In your opinion, what age is appropriate for a child to have their own smartphone/tablet?

Under 10

7. Have you ever influenced a friend’s decision about screen time for their child (through advice, comments, or example)?

Yes

If yes, what kind of advice did you give?

Section C: Social Influence & Behavior

8. Do you discuss screen time or technology use with your friends who are parents?

Yes, often

9. What factors do you think have the biggest impact on how parents decide when and how much screen time to allow? (Select all that apply)

9. What factors do you think have the biggest impact on how parents decide when and how much screen time to allow? (Select all that apply)

Busy schedules or lack of time

Social media trends

Child’s behavior

10. If a friend lets their child use screens frequently, how do you feel about it?

It’s understandable

It depends on context

11. Scenario: You’re out with a friend whose child won’t sit still. The parent hands over a phone to calm them. What’s your reaction?

11. Scenario: You’re out with a friend whose child won’t sit still. The parent hands over a phone to calm them. What’s your reaction?

Supportive — I’d probably do the same

Neutral — it’s practical

Concerned — it could form a habit

Section D: Influence & Reflection

12. Do you think your age group views parenting and technology differently than older generations?

Yes

13. Do you think your friends who are parents feel judged for how they manage their child’s screen time?

Yes

14. Do you think being busy with work, social life, or personal responsibilities makes it harder for parents to set screen-time limits?

Yes

15. What advice would you give parents who are struggling to manage their child’s screen time?

Thank you so much for your time and insights

Your perspective helps us see how parenting decisions are affected by the people around them — not just parents themselves.

If you are a young parent and would like to take part in a short interview for our project, we’d love to hear from you!

You can reach us at: [email protected]

PEER SURVEY: Influence and Perception of Parenting