Smartphones are one of the predominant digital gadgets used by masses in this digital era. Everyday communication, information and entertainment needs of individuals are met by smartphones with internet connectivity. They are an integral part of most of the families, specifically, parents, children, and elders. Research on use of smartphones by individuals especially adults reveal the influence of smartphones both positively and negatively on the society. Problematic smartphone use is an area of concern for parents and teachers when it is concerning children. Parents who can understand the scope and functioning of digital gadgets play a role in mediating the media use of children. In rural India where digital divide exists, to understand the negative or positive influence of smartphones on children is more complicated. However, in a post-Covid-19 pandemic scenario, use of smartphones has increased in rural regions and children access parents‟ smartphones. Parents in rural regions do comprehend the consequences of problematic smartphone use, however, not much research is available in this context. This paper tries to understand the parents‟ perception of their children‟s smartphone usage in rural families in India.