Some residents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) say excessive use of mobile phones and digital devices is widening communication gaps between parents and children and weakening family relationships.

The residents observed this in separate interviews with journalists on Thursday in Abuja.

They said prolonged screen time was reducing face-to-face communication and limiting opportunities for parents and children to spend quality time together.

A mother of three in Durumi, a community in the FCT, Queeneth Hilbert, said children now spend long hours on their phones instead of interacting with their parents.

According to Ms Hilbert, excessive phone use is no longer limited to children, as many parents also become engrossed in their devices immediately after returning home from work.

“At home, children can stay alone in their rooms for hours while their parents remain in the sitting room.

“You may think they are sleeping, but they are not. They stay awake until the middle of the night and then struggle to wake up in the morning, even for family prayers, because they slept late,” she said.

She said the problem cut across different age groups and educational backgrounds, urging families to deliberately create time for meaningful conversations and shared activities.

A civil servant, Solomon Peter, said increased screen time had reduced meaningful face-to-face interactions that once enabled family members to express emotions and resolve issues.

According to Mr Peter, the growing reliance on digital communication has also made it more difficult for people to interpret emotions and non-verbal cues.

“Before smartphones became common, families spent more time talking and interacting.

“Today, many children are more focused on their tablets and social media than on having proper conversations with their parents,” he said.

He said digital devices had become a major source of distraction, often preventing people from giving full attention to conversations.

“When you communicate face-to-face, you can read a person’s facial expressions and body language to know whether they are serious, joking or truly understand what you are saying. Online communication does not always reflect genuine emotions,” he said.

He urged families to create more opportunities for face-to-face conversations, saying stronger communication would improve relationships, emotional understanding and family bonding.

A trader and mother at the Garki International Market, Ngozi Okafor, said excessive phone use among her undergraduate children had significantly reduced interaction within her family.

According to Ms Okafor, once her children returned from school, they spent most of their time on their mobile phones, leaving little room for meaningful conversations at home.

“During our time, we sat together with our parents, shared stories and discussed family matters. I believe families need to reduce screen time and create more opportunities to talk and bond with one another,” she said.

Also speaking, a secondary school teacher in Karu, Ibrahim Musa, said though mobile phones offered numerous benefits, excessive screen time was negatively affecting students’ communication skills and interpersonal relationships.

Mr Musa said many students now spend more time on their phones than engaging in physical interactions, adding that the trend was beginning to affect classroom participation and social relationships.

“Technology is important, but we should encourage young people to strike a balance between screen time and real-life conversations,” he said.

A clinical psychologist, Amina Yero, said excessive screen time could affect children’s emotional development, communication skills and family relationships if not properly managed.

Ms Yaro said that while digital devices had become essential tools for learning and communication, they should not replace meaningful family interactions.

“Parents must also model responsible digital behaviour because children often imitate what they see.

“Establishing screen-free periods during meals, family discussions and before bedtime can help rebuild family connections,” she said.

She added that regular face-to-face communication helped children develop empathy, emotional intelligence and healthy social skills.

The psychologist also encouraged parents to engage their children in outdoor recreation, reading and other family activities that promote interaction and strengthen relationships.

(NAN)