Q: "My teenage daughter sits in her bedroom with her friends, but instead of talking to each other, they sit in silence and communicate via Snapchat – is this the norm these days or should I be worried?"
A: Youth expert Sarah Newton, author of Help! My Teenager Is An Alien, says: "There's nothing to worry about – communication for teenagers is different now, and while we may not understand, this shouldn't be cause for concern.
"What's often happening in these types of Snapchat exchanges is they're bringing other people who aren't physically present into the conversation. You might speak to her about it, share your concerns and ask if it bothers her.
"You could also suggest that perhaps sometimes when her friends are over, you take them out or they plan a movie night in. Suggest perhaps that you cook them all something or they have snacks around the table with no phones allowed. When they're doing something they enjoy, they're less likely to be engrossed in their phones – they often reach to them in times of boredom.
"Make sure too that in your home, you have technology-free times and zones, for example no phones at dinner, and encourage communication over meals, perhaps by using conversation cards.
"If your daughter can communicate well then I really would stop worrying."
