91% of children say conversations feel more natural when phones are put away during dinner.
54% of kids aged 10–16 are early AI adopters, and one in three sees AI as a companion.
67% of children say they turn to AI because their parents are too busy, leading to reduced parent-child conversations.
Vivo India has released its seventh edition of Switch Off report and it has highlighted how excessive smartphone usage is changing the parent-child relationship in urban India. The study report talks about a growing emotional gap between families, driven by device overuse and a sharp rise in children relying on AI tools when parents are unavailable.
SurveyAs the Switch Off Study 2025, based on the survey of over 1,500 parents and children, dinner time has become the most dependable window for family bonding. The survey also states that nearly three-fourths of children said they spend the most time with their parents during meals, and an overwhelming 91 per cent reported that conversations feel more natural when phones are kept aside. At the same time, 72 per cent of parents and 30 per cent of children admitted that parents checking their phones at the dining table is among the biggest barriers to meaningful interaction.
One of the study’s most alarming insights is the increasing tendency among children aged between 10 and 16 to turn to AI for help, learning, and even emotional support. The report stated that around 54 per cent of children are early adopters of AI tools, with one in three viewing AI as a companion. Additionally, 67 per cent claimed that they have turned to chatbots because their parents were too busy and one in four claimed they now speak less to their parents due to AI.
Vivo says that the reports show an urgent need to rebuild phone-free moments at home. ‘Technology should strengthen relationships, not weaken them,’ said Geetaj Channana, Head of Corporate Strategy at Vivo India. ‘Families are actively looking for balance, choosing to disconnect during key moments and be more present with each other,’ he added.
The study also showcases how children and parents use their devices. While parents tend to slip into frequent micro-checking triggered by work or habit, children use their phones in longer, entertainment-focused sessions. The report also added that the parents were more active on their phones during shared moments like family celebrations or even dinner.
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Ashish Singh
Ashish Singh is the Chief Copy Editor at Digit. He's been wrangling tech jargon since 2020 (Times Internet, Jagran English '22). When not policing commas, he's likely fueling his gadget habit with coffee, strategising his next virtual race, or plotting a road trip to test the latest in-car tech. He speaks fluent Geek. View Full Profile
