Parents gathered at the Silverbirch Hotel in Omagh for a Home-Start event on managing screens and smartphones in family life. The meeting focused on children up to five years old.

Gemma O’Brien, an Omagh mother of four children aged 14, 12, eight and six, attended the event. She provided phones to her two oldest children when they started secondary school. Her family turns off Wi-Fi at night and bans phones from bedrooms.

O’Brien expressed unease about online safety, likening a phone in a bedroom to a stranger present. She noted her 12-year-old daughter views TikTok content that prompts unnecessary use of skincare products to match appearances.

O’Brien called for training to help parents safeguard children online. She stated families must manage technology since returning to a pre-digital era is not possible.

The event included guest speakers on child development and technology use. Parents shared experiences during the evening.