How kids, parents, and grandparents use technology differently
 | August 3, 2026 | 5 min read |
Technology plays an important role in daily life for people of all ages, but the reasons people use it often vary by generation. Children use technology to learn, play and socialize. Parents rely on connected devices to manage busy households and stay informed. And grandparents increasingly use technology to keep in touch with family, access services and stay engaged with the world around them.
To better understand these different habits, the team at Ooma reviewed current research on how children, parents and grandparents interact with technology today. Understanding these patterns can help families make informed decisions about the technologies they choose and how they use them.
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Early adoption: How children interact with screens
Today’s children are growing up with access to digital technology from a very young age. Devices are often introduced during the toddler years, making technology a familiar part of everyday life long before children enter school.
By age 2, 40 percent of children have their own tablet, a figure that rises to 58 percent by age four. By age 8, one in four children has a personal cellphone. On average, children ages 8 and younger spend about 2.5 hours per day using screens.
Their digital activities span a wide range of experiences. Among children ages 12 and younger:
- 90 percent watch TV
- 68 percent use a tablet
- 61 percent use a smartphone
- 50 percent play on gaming devices
Gaming time alone has increased by 65 percent since 2020, reflecting the growing popularity of interactive digital experiences. New technologies are also becoming part of both home and classroom environments. Nearly one-third of parents report that their young child has already used artificial intelligence tools for school-related learning.
How parents balance connection, convenience and oversight
Parents often find themselves managing a wide variety of devices, platforms and apps while setting household expectations around technology use.
Supervision habits can vary significantly depending on the platform. While 62 percent of parents occasionally watch YouTube with their children, only 17 percent do the same with TikTok.
Parents’ comfort levels vary across platforms, reflecting the wide range of content experiences available online today. As new apps and services emerge, many families continue adapting their approaches to supervision and screen-time management.
Many parents acknowledge the challenges involved. Forty-two percent say they could do a better job managing their child’s screen time. Additionally, 80 percent believe social media causes more harm than good for children, while 67 percent think technology companies should do more to establish rules regarding what minors can access online.
Tech as a family management tool
At the same time, parents rely heavily on technology to keep family life organized.
About half of parents who use voice assistants depend on them daily for reminders, alarms and timers. Educational apps have also become common tools, with 82 percent of parents incorporating them into daily caregiving routines.
Safety settings are not applied equally across all devices. About half of parents use parental controls on tablets and 47 percent use them on smartphones, but only 35 percent use them on gaming consoles.
The differences in use of parental controls suggest that some devices receive more attention than others when families establish digital safety settings. As gaming platforms continue to add social and communication features, many households are expanding how they think about online safety beyond phones and tablets.
New technologies can also create awareness gaps between parents and children. For example, 51 percent of parents believe their teen uses AI chatbots, while 64 percent of teens report using them. The finding highlights how quickly technology habits can evolve and how families continue learning alongside one another.
Grandparents: Purposeful adoption and caregiving
Older adults are increasingly adopting digital technology, particularly tools that help them communicate, access information or simplify everyday tasks.
Among adults ages 50 and older, 89 percent own a smartphone, 75 percent have a smart TV, and 59 percent own a tablet. Additionally, 69 percent purchased at least one technology product during the past year.
Many older adults approach new technology thoughtfully. Sixty-seven percent report taking a “wait and see” approach before adopting new innovations. Rather than being first to try every new product, they often focus on technologies that provide clear value and practical benefits.
For many grandparents, technology serves as an important tool for maintaining relationships with children, grandchildren and other loved ones who may live far away.
Grandchildren and screen use
Technology also plays a role when grandparents help care for younger family members.
Research shows that nearly half of the time children spend with grandparents involves some form of screen media. During caregiving sessions, grandchildren average about two hours watching television and one hour gaming or using apps.
For many families, technology creates opportunities for shared experiences across generations. Whether watching videos together, playing games or making video calls, digital tools can help grandparents stay actively involved in their grandchildren’s lives.
Studies also suggest that a grandparent’s own comfort level with technology influences how they guide and participate in their grandchildren’s media use.
Three generations, three different approaches
| Generation | Primary approach | Common technology | Primary focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kids | Early access, entertainment and learning | Tablets, TV, smartphones, gaming devices and AI tools | Balancing learning, entertainment and age-appropriate experiences |
| Parents | Family management and digital decision-making | Smartphones, voice assistants, parental controls and educational apps | Managing convenience, safety and family routines |
| Grandparents | Purposeful connection and family caregiving | Smartphones, smart TVs, tablets and video calls | Staying connected while adopting new technologies |
Technology connects families in new ways
While technology habits vary across generations, people of all ages use technology to stay connected, informed and engaged. Children are growing up in a world where digital tools are a natural part of learning and entertainment. Parents use technology to coordinate busy lives and help children navigate new experiences. And grandparents embrace connected devices to communicate with loved ones, access services and stay involved in everyday family life.
As technology continues to evolve, families will likely keep adapting their habits and preferences. What matters most is finding tools that make communication easier and help strengthen relationships across generations.
At Ooma, we believe technology works best when it brings people together. The right technology, like our reliable home phone service, can help every generation stay in touch. Whether you need a landline designed for children or a straightforward and affordable setup for grandparents, we can help families stay connected with reliable, easy-to-use communication solutions.
Sources
Husain Sumra is a former journalist who reported on the biggest companies in tech, from Apple to Amazon, covering cloud services, consumer technology and communication solutions. His journalism background has helped him bring a customer-first approach to content marketing, creating pieces of content aimed at helping people.
