Parents and Teens Face Growing Conflict Over Screen Time and Discipline

Psychologists warn that the relationship between parents and adolescents is strained by the pervasive use of smartphones and social media. Italian psychologist Luca Mazzucchelli notes that the problem is not merely the amount of time teens spend on screens, but the inconsistency of adult behavior – parents often demand that children stay off phones while themselves remaining constantly connected. He stresses that adolescents copy observed habits, and that the device often amplifies existing emotional needs such as anxiety, loneliness or the desire for approval.

At the same time, educators and parents are confronting a broader cultural shift toward entitlement. Increasingly, children expect every desire to be met and view any refusal as an injustice. This “everything‑owed” mindset reduces respect for rules, responsibility and effort, and can lead to conflicts with teachers, coaches and other authority figures. Critics argue that the pendulum has swung from strict adult authority to permissiveness, weakening the development of discipline and self‑improvement.

Both trends highlight the need for clearer communication, consistent modeling of digital habits, and a re‑balancing of limits and responsibilities in the upbringing of today’s youth.