Parents and their children are arguing now more than ever about screen time according to a new study. Screen time has always been a topic of conversation in the parenting world. There was discussion on what the right amount of time was, and what was too much. Just when a lot of parents thought that they had reached a perfect schedule for screen time, a global pandemic arrived. COVID-19 changed the lives of every parent, and screen time rules seemed to go out the window as parents wanted to find ways to keep their children entertained.

However, with parents wanting to pull back the ropes a bit when it comes to how much time is spent in front of a screen, more arguments have broken out. According to CBS 4, a study has shown that arguments about screen time is on the rise for at least half of parents.

RELATED: Survey Reveals Parents True Fears Around Screen Time & Socialization

The survey was conducted by Digital Wellness Labs located at Boston Children’s Hospital, and it involved 1,569 parents of children who are in kindergarten all the way to grade 12. The aim of the survey was to document the challenges and benefits that families have had with the media during the pandemic. The results showed that families had noticed an increase in screen time as well as an increase in arguments regarding the TV and other devices.

When it came to the specifics:

•59% of parents said that their children were watching more television

•65% said that their children were watching videos on cell phones

•57% said that their children were playing more video games due to the pandemic.

There was also a notable increase in the use of social media apps as well as video calls.

Almost half of the parents said that they argued with their children about screen time more than they did pre-pandemic, and an alarming 20% of parents said there were more than one argument a day.

It seems like a double-edged sword because parents are worried about their child’s lack of activity because they are spending a lot of time in front of a screen, but they are also happy that their children are using the internet and technology to interact with friends and family members. This has helped them since being isolated at home to prevent the spread of the virus.

The worry is understandable, especially for children doing remote learning, because they are going off one device onto another and 1 out of 3 parents said their child is experiencing some form of physical problem after school, like headaches and back pain.

READ NEXT: From 8% Pre-Pandemic To Nearly Half Of Parents Now Say Kids Spend 6 Hours On Screens

Sources: CBS 4, Digital Wellness Lab, Boston Children’s Hospital