‘Fake Screen Time’ Is Trending: How Parents Can Talk To Teens About It

As conversations around children’s screen time and social media use continue to swirl, it’s perhaps no wonder experts are noticing a trend for “faking” screen time data.

UK search interest for ‘fake screen time’ has reached a five-year high, according to Google Keyword Planner data analysed by Bupa UK. In the last year alone, searches rose by 500%.

Parents can manage and monitor their children’s screen time to prevent excessive usage. But kids are clearly intent on finding workarounds – from using screen time faker apps, to more elaborate methods that leave even the most tech-savvy parents perplexed.

“Can someone help me make a screen time faker?” asked one young person on Reddit, noting their “parents are getting stricter” and they needed to “fake” their usage stats.

Some teens are spending up to 14 hours per day on social media apps and games, according to the BBC. Meanwhile, there was a 52% increase in children’s screen time between 2020 and 2022, and nearly 25% use their phones in a way that’s consistent with a behavioural addiction.

While having access to phones and the internet can help kids bond with friends and find new communities, there are also plenty of downsides.

Research shows social media could have a detrimental impact on teen mental health. Too much screen time can also hamper a child’s ability to focus, process and recall, as well as impacting language learning.

There’s also the addictive element. “Many apps that we use every day are designed to generate constant dopamine hits – a chemical released in our brains that makes us feel good. When you can take your device anywhere, you can get constant dopamine hits every time you check your phone,” says Dr Lukha.

“Constant exposure to dopamine from your device can lead to a tolerance, meaning the effect of the dopamine hit lessens. This leaves you spending more time on the app, trying to seek that same feel-good hit that you initially found. A similar principle can be found for other addictive behaviours, like gambling, drinking alcohol, or taking drugs.”

Over time, addictive behaviours can lead to other problems, like neglecting daily responsibilities or relationships.

“Many of us use our smartphones to help us feel better connected to others, however spending too much time in front of your screen can actually increase loneliness in the long run, and leave teens particularly vulnerable to comparison culture, which may make them more prone to developing depression,” adds Dr Lukha.

“Being chronically online may lead to an increased risk of bullying, exploitation and pressure to look a certain way in younger people. Linked with this risk comes greater proneness to anxiety, low self-worth and eating disorders.”

There’s also the physical element to consider – prolonged device use can lead to eye strain, increased risk of headaches, blurred vision and shoulder pain, along with health conditions like heart disease.

As conversations around screen time and social media use dominate headlines, parents will understandably want to find ways to curb their children’s usage.

As a benchmark, more than two hours a day of screen time is seen to be excessive, notes Dr Lukha. Yet research shows many teens spend eight hours per day on screens.

“When it comes to reviewing daily screen use, teens who have knowingly, or unknowingly, exceeded their agreed limit may be tempted to fake their statistics for several reasons,” she explains.

“Regardless of whether they’ve exceeded their screen time agreement by minutes or hours, teens may feel ashamed of their metrics. They may also be worried about any repercussions from their parents, when asked to share their stats.

“On the other hand, teens may feel like monitoring their screen use isn’t necessary, especially if their friends aren’t monitored similarly. Or if their friends use their phone as frequently as they do, or more.”

The one thing not to do here is lecture them. Instead, tact is needed in order to manage the situation “without sparking anxiety, arguments or withdrawals”, says Dr Lukha.

Here’s what she recommends:

Firstly, consider whether you’re setting a good example with your own smartphone use – and if not, it’s worth considering ways to manage it and carve out screen-free time.

“If you find it hard to step away from your phone, try urge-surfing,” Dr Lukha says. “Urge-surfing is a technique that encourages you to pay attention to the feeling of the urge, rather than trying to ignore it completely.

“Confronting your urges head on helps you acknowledge them, which means you’re less likely to slip up and mindlessly scroll. This technique could be useful for your teen to know, too.”

Instead of confiscating devices, try to introduce periods of time where they are not the focus of their attention. It might be easier if you do this as a family, so it doesn’t feel unfair.

Dr Lukha notes you could make dinner together and use recipe books rather than a device, or introduce a no-phones-at-the-table rule so you can catch up with each other.

If your teen uses their phone as an alarm, it might be worth investing in a digital alarm clock so they can keep devices off one-hour before bedtime – and throughout the night. Encourage them to charge their phone away from their bedtime, so temptation is out of reach. You could even set it as a challenge for the whole family.

If teens are spending hours on phones, think about what else they could be doing in that time – for example, joining clubs or giving new hobbies a try.

“Try to remind your teen of the things they used to enjoy, and ask them if they’d like to give them another go,” says Dr Lukha.

“Whether it’s something familiar for your teen, or something new, it could be nice to try it together with them – that way, you can share some unplugged time, and maybe even do some bonding, too.”

The expert notes that if a teenager’s screen use has suddenly increased or they start to panic when their phone isn’t within reach, it could be a sign that something deeper is going on.

“Don’t be afraid to ask them about it, but try to frame it from an area of concern, rather than accusation,” she suggests.

You could say something along the lines of: “I’ve noticed you’ve been spending a lot more time on your phone. I realised we’ve not had a catch-up recently, so I wanted to check if there’s anything new going on with you.”

And don’t forget that health professionals can also help. High smartphone usage may be a coping mechanism for other things going on in their life, Dr Lukha says, adding: “Talking therapies, like cognitive behavioural therapy, may be useful to get to the route of the problem, and give your teen healthier strategies that aren’t centred around their phone.”