• The initiative has created a meeting point between families and health and education experts. It has addressed screen use through guidance and the strengthening of family bonds.

• Parents express concern about the lack of control over digital content, exposure to inappropriate messages, the influence of algorithms, and the difficulties of managing screen time.

• Experts agree that children’s screen use responds to structural and emotional factors—such as work–life balance, fatigue, or a lack of support networks—rather than a lack of parental involvement, and they recommend starting with adult role modeling.

• The campaign includes the production of the documentary and podcast “Zero Screens Zone,” which provide families with experiences, opinions, and guidelines to achieve a healthier digital environment.

Castellana Properties, a leading company in the acquisition and management of shopping centers in Spain and Portugal, has concluded the international campaign “Zero Screens Zone,” aimed at raising awareness about the use of digital devices in childhood. Under the slogan “Disconnect to Reconnect,” it toured 11 of the company’s shopping centers across Spain and Portugal, with initiatives focused on equipping families with tools to encourage responsible screen use, enjoy quality time, and reconnect as a family.

During the days the event took place at each location, families were challenged to disconnect by leaving their mobile phones parked while they were in the shopping center. Thanks to the participation of more than 1,300 families, the initiative accumulated 95,494 screen-free minutes—the equivalent of more than two months. During that time, parents and children voluntarily deposited their devices in lockers and took part in activities, games, and workshops organized at the centers, to enjoy quality time and reconnect as a family.

The campaign has become a space for active listening to families, as well as joint reflection with experts such as Lucía Galán Bertrand (“Lucía, My Pediatrician”), Isabel Cuesta (“Una madre molona”), Rafa Guerrero, Sara Noguera (“Kimudi”), Alberto Soler, and pediatrician Hugo Rodrigues. Through these meetings, families were able to learn firsthand about the effects of excessive screen use and access practical tools to support their children toward a more balanced and safer digital environment.

Emotional distance, failure to detect problems, and the replacement of communication as key concerns

A shared conclusion emerged from these meetings: the debate is not whether screens should be used or not, but how to accompany their use with judgment, role modeling, and family consistency. Experts agree that parents’ greatest fear is not focused solely on screen time, but on the lack of control over content, exposure to inappropriate messages, and the role of algorithms, which present content without the child actively seeking it.

During talks and panel discussions, families voiced common concerns that recur regardless of social or educational context. These include a sense of emotional distance, fear that mobile phones may replace communication at home, and difficulty in detecting emotional problems, mood changes, or situations of isolation in time.

Screen time continues to be a source of tension in many households. Parents acknowledge difficulties in setting limits without creating conflict, a growing sense of dependence, and the impact of nighttime mobile phone use on children’s sleep, school performance, and mood. Added to this are ongoing doubts about the appropriate age for a first phone or access to social media, in an environment marked by social comparison and the pressure of “everyone has one.”

Guidance, role modeling, and bonding: key factors

During the talks and roundtables held at the shopping centers, experts also shared guidelines for action, agreeing that children’s screen use often responds to structural and emotional factors—such as work–life balance, fatigue, or the lack of support networks—rather than a lack of interest on the part of families.

They therefore recommend starting with adult role modeling, as parents’ own reduction in screen use has a greater impact than any rule. Among the agreed guidelines are establishing a few clear and stable rules, such as avoiding screens during meals, study time, or at night, and delaying access to smartphones and social media as much as possible.

In adolescence, experts stress the importance of prioritizing bonding over control, encouraging conversation, offering healthy alternatives to digital leisure, and supporting minors through any difficulties—understanding mistakes as a natural part of learning.

“Zero Screens Zone” leaves lessons and family experiences in documentary and podcast formats

To conclude the initiative—developed and implemented by Kranz—Castellana Properties has released the documentary “Zero Screens Zone,” which brings together expert testimonies and the main conclusions of the initiative at an international level. In addition, all talks and roundtables are available publicly through the podcast of the same name, accessible on Spotify and YouTube.