Vietnam families curb teen phone addiction with parental screen limits

Parents in Ho Chi Minh City report that their children spend many hours on smartphones, while the adults themselves also habitually use phones during meals, work breaks and evenings. Several families have introduced rules such as placing phones on a shelf during meals, banning device use between 19:30 and 21:00, and restricting use after 22:00. After a few weeks, children have turned to toys and games and family conversation has increased.

Psychologists say children learn screen habits by observing parents, so adult screen behavior must change before children can be persuaded to reduce use. Experts also note that many parents unintentionally hand phones to children to keep them quiet or occupied.

A related trend in Vietnam shows young adults becoming informal tech tutors for older relatives. They help parents download files, update software and use AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini, teaching them how to phrase queries and verify answers. This inter‑generational support is seen as strengthening family bonds and enabling seniors to engage with digital services safely.