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Hysterics As Gen Z Parents Attempt to Raise Baby Without Screen Time


A video of parents hanging out in their baby’s room while reading books has gone viral on TikTok. However, the couple aren’t actually reading; they are using the book to hide their cell phones.

The TikTok clip, shared by mom Aliyah Norales, 25, from New York (@thealiyahnorales), has racked up 1.4 million views since it was posted on February 4. In the video, her husband, Santos Norales, 28, is lying on the floor, seemingly reading First 100 Words Book next to their 8-month-old daughter, who has taken an interest in books too.

The text layered over the video, which says, “iPad kids trying to raise a baby without a screen addiction,” has resonated with thousands. However, upon reflection, Norales has realized they don’t quite fall into the iPad kid category, as it usually refers to Gen Alpha children—born between 2010 and the mid-2020s—who are glued to the device.

The stay-at-home mom told Newsweek: “We grew up with technology being integrated into our lives at an early age, especially with the rise of social media. We do find ourselves a little addicted to our phones sometimes—even if we don’t want to admit it!”

Two screenshots from the video show Norales, 25, revealing her cell phone hidden inside a book and her baby playing with books.

TikTok/@thealiyahnorales

According to Statista, in a 2023 survey conducted in the United States, 56 percent of Gen Z respondents claimed to feel addicted to their phones. Millennials followed, with almost half of respondents from that generation reporting feeling addicted to the device.

The clip, captioned: “She’s probably like, ‘Wow, my parents really love reading.’ We are not anti-screen time, but definitely low screen time, so this is our little hack—and she loves books already, so it’s working.”

“Our daughter does not have an iPad, and while we wouldn’t say she’ll never have one, our goal is to delay it as much as possible. Since screens are already a big part of daily life, we want to be intentional about setting healthy boundaries—especially at this stage, when her brain development is so crucial,” Norales said.

“We’re not anti-screen time, but we’re also not fans of young kids having personal iPads. We want her to engage with the world around her, learn how to be present, and understand that screens have a time and place—but they shouldn’t be the default.

“For us, low screen time is about intentionally choosing real-world engagement over digital distractions—for both our daughter and ourselves. Even as adults, we have to be mindful, because if we pick up our phones to scroll, we can zone out for minutes without even realizing it.

“Our goal is to help her develop creativity, patience, and the ability to be bored without always reaching for a screen. We believe boredom is essential for imagination and learning, and we want her to prioritize human connection over digital entertainment.”

‘Parents Are Their Children’s Models’

Newsweek discussed the clip that has 236,000 likes with Ana Aznar, a developmental psychologist with years of experience working with parents, children, and schools.

“These parents are doing well choosing to ‘read’ books instead of being with their phones. After all, we must remember that parents are their children’s models. So, if we want our children to read, we should read ourselves. For children, it matters more what parents do than what parents say,” Aznar said.

“As much as possible, parents should try to put their phones away when they are with their kids. There is a phenomenon called ‘technoference,’ which happens when smartphones get in the way of parents’ interactions with their children.”

A new meta-analysis published shows that parental technoference is associated with problematic media use during the teenage years.

She added: “Different organizations provide different advice regarding screens. In general, the agreement is that children under two should have no screen time at all, except for video chatting with grandparents or other family members, which is considered quality time interacting with others. It is important to remember that human interaction is always better for babies and toddlers than any screen.”

TikTok Reacts

“Can’t believe we’re the new generation of parents,” said one user and another joked: “Don’t mind me charging my book.”

“That’s such a good idea [because] my baby’s already clocking me on my phone so much,” said a third commenter and a fourth wrote: “Yes!!! They absorb everything you model for them, I love this level of commitment.”

If you have a family dilemma, let us know via life@newsweek.com. We can ask experts for advice, and your story could be featured on Newsweek.



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