Anonymous wrote:My 14 year old spends upwards of three hours a day (sometimes as much as 5 hours on a weekend) on discord calls with his girlfriend or various friends. Sometimes they are just talking about nothing in particular, sometimes they are playing online games together. I feel it is excessive, but DH thinks this is normal and that I am being too strict. Would love any feedback people may have.

Completely normal.

Normal in our house. 16 yr old DC is on discord calls playing games, watching movies, etc…probably more than 3-5 hrs per day. This summer he has a job, a sport with regular practices, and does the family stuff (chores, family day trips/reunions/etc). So what’s wrong with being online with friends when you have downtime?
Unless your DS is online exclusively & will not do other things too, I think it sounds fine. At least he is getting some social interaction, this is how it takes place at age 14 when they can’t drive/do a lot.

Anonymous wrote:You don't remember talking on the phone for hours with your friends or bf/gf?

Yep, thank goodness for call waiting and *69.

Anonymous wrote:You don't remember talking on the phone for hours with your friends or bf/gf?

Hours? No. Not on the single family phone we had that everyone could hear.

You don't remember talking on the phone for hours with your friends or bf/gf?

Totally normal. Didn’t you talk on the phone nonstop at that age?

Very normal

Normal. My DS is the same (minus the girlfriend). It’s fine with me, during the summer/school breaks. As long as he is completing his responsibilities and getting enough exercise, which he is.

My 13 year old gets on calls with friends. I allow it. I talked on the phone a lot as a kid.

Voice talking? Healthy and sadly not so normal nowadays.

Encourage them to talk about something creative and productive during some of the time.

Completely normal.

It’s normal, how you are describing it. My 15 yo probably spends that much time. He was on for an hour or so this afternoon and then off doing other stuff. I can hear him talking now but I know he’s going to get off soon for dinner. There’s no doubt he will be on from 9 until ??? since it’s Saturday night. So it will be a 5 hour day but he’s had a busy active week and it’s not 5 consecutive hours. I like he’s at least talking to people.

My 12 year old spends anywhere from 1 -3 hours, a bit in the afternoon but mostly evening time after dinner. The kids aren't getting together in person very often right now because they're all doing camps, so they'll gather on Discord -- chatting, playing online games, sometimes doing stupid truth or dare types of things. I'd rather have him doing this than sitting around moping or gaming online alone. His computer is in a nook just off our living room, so I overhear quite a bit..

My 14year old dd spends about 1-2 hours a day on calls but it can be more. I am relaxed about it as it is summer and it is just another form of socializing. I would prefer if they were hanging more in person though than spending too much time in their room...

My 14 year old spends upwards of three hours a day (sometimes as much as 5 hours on a weekend) on discord calls with his girlfriend or various friends. Sometimes they are just talking about nothing in particular, sometimes they are playing online games together. I feel it is excessive, but DH thinks this is normal and that I am being too strict. Would love any feedback people may have.