Award-winning broadcaster Carol Ofori opens up about raising children in a fast-paced digital world and how she navigates screen time, social media, and parenting in the age of instant connectivity.
Raising children today comes with a unique set of challenges. For Ofori, parenting in a digital-first world means constantly balancing screen time, social media exposure, and real-world experiences, all while trying to provide guidance in a world her children were born into.
“Raising kids today is exceptionally challenging. As a millennial, I grew up in a time with no internet, then dial-up, and now fibre, all within my lifetime. My kids, on the other hand, have been born into a world of instant, high-speed connectivity. Devices are constantly in children’s hands, which can easily lead to overexposure and dependency,” Ofori says.
She explains that parenting in this environment requires intention and awareness. “It means I have to be very intentional about screen time, about encouraging outdoor play, and about how we parent. It’s not always safe for kids to play outside the way we used to, so we’re constantly navigating a new way of raising children that fits the times we live in.”
On practical rules at home, Ofori is firm. “My kids are not on social media; they’re still too young. We do, however, have strict screen time rules. There are no screens from Monday to Friday, and access only starts on Friday afternoons. Each child gets a maximum of two hours per day across all devices, which totals about six hours over the weekend. We’re quite firm about this, and we encourage reading, interactive play and spending time outdoors instead.”
When it comes to social media access, she believes age and maturity are key factors. “Platforms like WhatsApp are also forms of social media. My son turns 11 soon, and while his cousins are on WhatsApp, he’s not on platforms like Facebook, Instagram or TikTok. It really depends on the child and their level of maturity, but personally, I would say 15 and older is more appropriate for full access to platforms like Instagram or TikTok, and even then, with strict boundaries. That includes private accounts, content filtering and monitoring who they engage with.”
Ofori admits it’s not always easy to balance safety and exposure. “It’s scary, because that space can be toxic. At some point, though, you have to gradually let go, but with guidance and safeguards in place,” she says.
Despite the challenges, Ofori’s parenting approach emphasizes intentionality and real-world connection. She says she encourages reading, outdoor play, and interactive activities, and prioritizes ongoing conversations with her children about technology.
On practical rules at home, Ofori is firm. “My kids are not on social media; they’re still too young. We do, however, have strict screen time rules. There are no screens from Monday to Friday, and access only starts on Friday afternoons. Each child gets a maximum of two hours per day across all devices, which totals about six hours over the weekend. We’re quite firm about this, and we encourage reading, interactive play and spending time outdoors instead.”
When it comes to social media access, she believes age and maturity are key factors. “Platforms like WhatsApp are also forms of social media. My son turns 11 soon, and while his cousins are on WhatsApp, he’s not on platforms like Facebook, Instagram or TikTok. It really depends on the child and their level of maturity, but personally, I would say 15 and older is more appropriate for full access to platforms like Instagram or TikTok, and even then, with strict boundaries. That includes private accounts, content filtering and monitoring who they engage with.”
Ofori admits it’s not always easy to balance safety and exposure. “It’s scary, because that space can be toxic. At some point, though, you have to gradually let go, but with guidance and safeguards in place,” she says.
Despite the challenges, Ofori’s parenting approach emphasizes intentionality and real-world connection. She says she encourages reading, outdoor play, and interactive activities, and prioritizes ongoing conversations with her children about technology.
Saturday Star