by Regina (3-5’s parent)
In this day and age, we are constantly connected to the world around us—and often times become more disconnected to the intimate world beside us. In a recent study by the University of Washington and University of Michigan, Not at the Dinner Table: Parent’s and Children’s Perspectives on Family Technology Rules, the findings of household most important technology rules and expectations are unsurprising.
Before the world became so plugged in, managing kid’s technology use was once easier for parents—such simple tasks as monitoring the family computer in the living room or shutting off the TV when the show was over. Now as a society where almost everyone has phones with them at all times, it’s become more difficult to maintain those boundaries. Although this research surveyed an older focus group (children from ages 10-17), this may give some perspective and insight on how our younger ones may think. As a parent who feels “naked” without my phone, this article was a good reminder of how technology runs my life, and how my children may view my device use.
The researchers from human centered design and engineering surveyed 249 families with children between the ages of 10 and 17 about their household’s most important technology rules and expectations, as well as what made those rules harder or easier to follow. This survey revealed kid’s feelings about fairness and oversharing, as well as how families approach technology rules and its effectiveness.
The study found that kids would set such rules for their parents and their smartphone use: Put your phone away when I’m talking to you. Don’t text while you’re driving — not even at red lights. Stop posting photos of me without my permission. The answers researchers found when asked kids what technology rules they wished their parents would follow fell into seven general categories:
1) Be present (no technology at all in certain situations, like when child-parent interaction occurs)
2) Child autonomy (allowing children to make their own decisions about technology use)
3) Moderate use (parents using technology in moderation and balance)
4) Supervising Children (parents establishing and enforcing technology related rules for children’s protection)
5) Not while driving (not even during red lights)
6) No hypocrisy (AKA practicing what you preach, staying off internet at mealtimes, etc.)
7) No oversharing (no sharing information about their children online without permission).
“Twice as many children as parents expressed concerns about family members oversharing personal information about them on Facebook and other social media without permission,” said co-author Sarita Schoenebeck, assistant professor in the University of Michigan’s School of Information. “Many children said they found that content embarrassing and felt frustrated when their parents continued to do it.”
Other findings from this survey ranged from children’s disclosure that they found it easier to follow technology rules at home when parents also lived by them as well. Parents were found to often prioritize privacy rules to prevent children from putting themselves at risk. The most common expectation among the findings was the need to “be present” in certain social situations, such as during meals or when a family member was talking. Data showed that children were likely to follow such specific rules that limit specific technology activities (i.e. no Facebook) than rules that limit the use of technology in certain environments (i.e. no phone at the dinner table).
This research brings up the question of creating app and device design that allow users to use such options as a “family time” button. The research suggests that if parents find that a particular app or social media site is too difficult for their kids to disengage from, the simpler solution is to make it off-limits.
“If app and device designers were more open to fostering healthy technology habits, they probably would make their current customers happier,” said co-author Julie Kientz, UW associate professor of Human Centered Design and Engineering. “And they might bring in more families who’ve decided the rule is not to use it at all.”
Family Technology Rules: What Kids expect of Parents; Langston, J.