Let’s get honest, parent to parent: If you’ve ever found yourself bargaining with your teen—“Unload the dishwasher and I’ll let you have 10 more minutes on Instagram”—you’re not alone. In fact, you’re basically living the global parenting experience of 2025.

Recent surveys show that 74% of Arab youth can’t unplug from social media, and 61% admit it’s affecting their mental health. That’s not just a Middle East problem; it’s a worldwide epidemic. But in Egypt and across the region, the pressure to be “always online” is hitting new highs. Teens are spending over 3.5 hours a day scrolling, double-tapping, and—let’s be honest—avoiding eye contact with anyone holding a broom.

Remember when you had to go buy bread for pocket money? Today’s teens are more likely to ask for cash to buy “skins” in a game than to help set the table. And if you suggest a summer job, you might get a TED Talk about “mental health” and “personal boundaries.” The Arab Youth Survey even found that influencer status now outranks traditional careers in popularity. Apparently, the new “value of money” is measured in likes and followers, not hard-earned coins.

Why Should We Care?

Because, as parents, we’re not just raising kids—we’re raising future adults. Studies link this lack of real-world responsibility to rising anxiety and depression rates among teens. When everything comes easy (or at the tap of a screen), teens miss out on learning resilience, the satisfaction of earning something, and yes, the joy of a perfectly swept floor.

What Can We Do?

• Model the Behavior: If you want your teen to value hard work, let them see you doing it—without complaining (much).
• Set Boundaries: Limit screen time, even if it means risking the dreaded “You’re ruining my life!” speech.
• Tie Privileges to Responsibilities: No chores, no WiFi. It’s not punishment; it’s parenting.
• Talk About Money: Explain how things work in the real world. Maybe even let them manage a small budget (and watch how quickly they learn the price of snacks).

Social media isn’t going anywhere, and neither is teen entitlement. But with a little humor, a lot of patience, and the occasional WiFi password change, we might just help our kids rediscover the value of both money and responsibility. And who knows—maybe one day they’ll thank us. Or at least put their plate in the sink.