Parents who use phones excessively 'struggle to set screen time rules for kids'

Parents who are overly attached to their phones may find it difficult to set screen time limits for their children, The Children's Commissioner for England has warned.

Dame Rachel de Souza believes tech companies should fund 'parental education' to help families understand what youngsters are viewing online.

Speaking to the Commons Education Select Committee, she said parents need to discuss their "own addictions". She told MPs: “You see parents with kids using their phones at dinner time. We can’t say, ‘I’m going to ban you from having this’ – well we can – but then act as adults in a totally uncontrolled way scrolling at night.”

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Schools in England received Government advice aimed at preventing mobile phone use during school hours.

And the Children's Commissioner told MPs that young people are exposed to "horrendous things" online and want to be able to discuss these with their parents.

According to feedback from young people to the commissioner's office, they want "boundaries around screen time" and would like their parents to take their phones away before bedtime.

Dame Rachel stated: "I think as parents we need to and as adults we need to wake up here and also watch our own behaviours." She advised MPs that keeping technology out of the bedroom was a "good piece of advice".

Esther Ghey, whose daughter Brianna tragically lost her life, is pushing for a minimum age for smartphone useage and tighter regulations on social media apps.

Dame Rachel echoed her support for this idea, saying: "I think as long as that's coupled with education a proper campaign of parental education I think it could be incredibly helpful and we should be looking