A US mom's unique travel hack for children has sparked intense debate online. The utility focused creation by content creator Lauren Show, meant to keep kids entertained during long vehicle rides.

Lauren posted a tutorial sharing the simple concept which quickly attracted a huge viewership along with a healthy stream of likes. Despite its popularity, the post also stirred some controversy among parents over the impact of screen time on children's development.

In the video, Lauren efficiently demonstrates her trick, creating makeshift phone holder in the back seat of a car. The process involves taking a Ziploc bag, sliding up a front car seat headrest, positioning the bag over the two metal points till it fits comfortably like a holder. Using scissors, she stabs two holes via the bag, into the metal, after which the headrest secures the setup when slid back in place.

The baggie now transformed into a phone holder, can securely accommodate a smartphone with its zipper seal. However, despite the hack's practicality, the proposed introduction of a screen to a child's road trip journey has been met with mixed reviews.

Some parents expressed concerns over nurturing screen addiction in children. Others nostalgically reminisced about their own childhoods, suggesting alternatives like window gazing, reading books or playing eye spy to entertain kids instead of yielding to digital substitutes. The undercurrent in these responses hinted at the importance of fostering creativity and staying present in an increasingly digital world.

Nonetheless, there were some parents who appreciated Lauren's quick fix road trip hack, drawing from their own experiences of relying on portable consoles and in-car movies for entertainment. They argued the sentiment against screen use was overplayed, and that moderate use can inspire happiness in children.

Screen time statistics by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry indicate kids aged eight to 12 use screens for four to six hours a day, and teens for nine hours. They warn of side effects like sleeping issues, mood problems, poor self-image and unhealthy habits. Consequently, American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry  recommends regulated screen time, primarily educational for infants, about an hour a day for age two to five and only to supplement healthy activities for age six and older.