According to a survey conducted by the Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB), the majority of the German population believes that adults should reduce their usage of smartphones during leisure time. A significant 73 percent of respondents stated that adults ought to spend less time on their smartphones, particularly when children are present. This perspective is notably strong among individuals with an Abitur (83 percent) and those over 50 years old (81 percent). Furthermore, 83 percent of those surveyed are in the opinion that children and adolescents under the age of 16 should generally use their smartphones less.
The survey findings, which were collected in February 2026, were based on a pilot study involving 415 participants. Katharina Spieß, the Director of the BiB, noted that the results reflect a collective desire among the populace for less smartphone time-a sentiment shared by children, adults in general, and parents in particular.
Remarkably, 93 percent of respondents agreed that parents should limit their smartphone time when interacting with their children. This viewpoint garnered broad consensus across all educational and age groups. Spieß added that promoting more mindful media habits within family life can only be authentically communicated if adults themselves demonstrate this behavior.
