‘Mom, please listen to me’

Kashmira Gander 

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Stop using your phone when I’m talking to you” may sound like what an angry parent would say to a child, but it is in fact a rule that young people wish to impose on their families, a new study has found. US researchers surveyed 249 families with children between the ages of 10 to 17 about how technology use was restricted in their households. The children were also asked which rules they wished they could impose on their parents.

 Researchers found there were seven common themes. Parents shouldn’t share information, including photos, online about their children without their explicit permission, the participants also said.  Children also wanted their parents to be more present and stop using technology during conversations, and use devices in moderation.

An apparent fear for safety among children was also highlighted, as they asked parents to stop texting while they were driving or at a traffic light. They agreed that parents should establish and enforce rules to protect them. Children also wished that parents would follow rules which they impose themselves and stop using devices at mealtimes.

Sarita Schoenebeck, assistant professor in the University of Michigan’s School of Information  and co-author of the study said, “Twice as many children as parents expressed concerns about family members over sharing personal information about them on Facebook and other social media without permission.

“Many children said they found that content embarrassing and felt frustrated when their parents continued to do it.” —The Independent