Whether you are a parent, guardian or anyone who interacts with children and teens, chances are you have asked yourself multiple times, “Are mobile phones helping our youth or are they doing more harm than good?”

Trust me, you are not alone. I hear this all the time from adults, and sometimes teens, who admit they spend too much time online but don’t know how to stop.

Today’s life moves faster than ever and, let’s be honest, sometimes screens are used to fill gaps when needed. When adults have to navigate long work hours and struggle to afford or attain childcare, a phone or tablet can keep a child occupied and safe at home.

This is a reality many face, and it’s no one’s fault.

More adults than some care to admit are simply fighting for survival by any means necessary.

And as much as we love them, phones can create big problems.

As adults, we are losing focus, rest, imagination and the time we spend truly connecting with each other.

Across Bermuda, teachers, coaches and parents are seeing the same trends.

Attention spans are shrinking. Children jump from one short video to the next and find it hard to stay focused in class or during practice.

Among other things, they are sleep-deprived. Devices in bedrooms mean messages and videos late into the night or trying to reach a game-high score instead of getting shuteye.

Extra screen time leads to tired students, and ultimately affects learning.

The opportunity for viewing adult content is always the click of a button away. Even without searching for it, children can stumble upon violent or sexual material on social-media feeds.

Without guidance, this content can have a detrimental impact on their development and how they navigate future relationships.

In this hectic world when parents are stretched thin, many families simply don’t have the time, space or tools to monitor everything their child sees online. None of this means you are failing as parents. It means you’re facing new challenges that didn’t exist when we were growing up. The truth is, this problem is bigger than any single home; it’s something we have to tackle together as a community.

Not every household has the same routines or resources. Some parents can be home after school; others are working double shifts or caring for relatives — so the solutions have to work for everyone and not just those with extra time or money.

Here are some solutions that can help:

• Encourage the young person in your life to start small. Even 30 minutes of phone-free time in the evening. No phones during dinner, or while getting ready for bed, can make a difference

• Check in with them. Initiate meaningful conversations. Spend more time laughing and talking, and less time liking and sharing on social media

• Set a “digital bedtime”. If a complete phone ban feels impossible, try to set a time that all devices are charged outside of the bedroom. Out of sight, out of mind. I know some will say they use their phone for an alarm, but we used to have alarms before we had phones, so let’s get back on track

• Use the built-in tools to protect children from harmful content. Every phone and tablet has free parental controls, and no fancy app is needed. You can block adult content, limit app use and filter videos

If you can’t be home after school, talk with a neighbour, older sibling or grandparent who can be present. Community support is what Bermuda has always been good at

Talk to children about what they see. They may not tell you when they stumble on to something violent or sexual, but you can open that door to the conversation. Let them know they can always come to you without fear of punishment.

Instead of strict rules that feel like punishment, create “family screen goals”.

Teachers have seen the increase in distractions, more fidgeting and less focus in class, so schools have been forced to keep up with the impact of increased screen time. Many are creating phone-free classrooms and advocating for phone-free schools.

Community organisations, clubs and churches can play a big role as well. Imagine after-school programmes where children can play, study and talk instead of scrolling.

As the Shadow Minister of Education and Sport, our response has to match the scale of the challenge. This is what I would do as minister:

1, Provide clear national standards for digital safety in schools balancing technology use with student wellbeing

2, Foster community partnerships that make after-school programmes and youth spaces more accessible, so screens aren’t the only option

3, Ensure better protections online so it is harder for violent and sexual content to reach children in the first place

This is about fairness, not finger-pointing. Every family deserve the chance to raise children safely in a digital world, whether you’re a single parent working nights, a two-parent household juggling schedules or a grandparent helping out.

If you are reading this and thinking, “I can’t keep up. I don’t have time to watch everything my child does,” please know you are not alone. Most parents feel the same way.

Start with one change this week. Pick one small step that fits your routine. Maybe it is turning off the wi-fi at a certain time. Little by little, it makes a difference. If you already feel you are out of options, reach out to your child’s teacher, coach, church leader or a community group. Raising children has always taken a village, and that hasn’t changed — the challenges just look a lot different now.

Phones and tablets are not going away, and neither is our responsibility to guide children to use them responsibly and safely. Whether you have a lot of time or barely enough to catch your breath, there is something each of us can do to help. Let’s not divide families by who can afford time or tools. Let’s build a community where every child from every home learns how to use technology wisely, safely and with purpose.

If we work together as parents, teachers, neighbours and policymakers, we can make sure our children grow up confident, kind and connected in the right ways. That’s the Bermuda we all want to see.

• Ben Smith is the Shadow Minister of Education and Sport, and the MP for Smith’s South (Constituency 8)