Raising Kids in a Digital World: The Role of Socioeconomic Status and Race in Screen Time Management

This study examines how socioeconomic status (SES) and race/ethnicity shape U.S. parents’ strategies for managing children’s screen time, highlighting digital inequality in family socialization. Using secondary analysis of Pew Research Center surveys (2020, 2024), the research employs descriptive statistics and qualitative coding to explore sources of screen time advice and perceived regulatory ability across demographic groups. Findings reveal that higher-SES parents leverage greater access to digital tools and institutional advice, reflecting structured socialization, while lower-SES parents face resource constraints, limiting their control over digital engagement. Racial trends suggest higher platform use among Black teens, pointing to subcultural influences on parenting challenges. These disparities underscore a digital divide extending beyond access to agency, amplifying socialization inequalities. The study enriches family sociology and stratification theory by linking technology management to social hierarchies, proposing interventions like digital literacy programs, and advocating for longitudinal research to assess long-term impacts on equitable digital parenting.