Parents and online technologies: Parental Awareness of Youth Online Behaviors & Predicting...

“What do I think you’re doing?!”

Sahara Byrne seb272@cornell.edu

Department of CommunicationCornell University

Also:Theo LeeDaniel LinzMary McIlrathMike Yao

Parental Awareness of Youth Online Behaviors & Predicting Resistance to Protective Strategies

Questions.

• What are kids doing with technology?

• What do we think they are doing?

• What can we do to guide/protect them?

Resistance

• WHEN are strategic efforts to protect kids likely to be met with resistance?

• WHY does this happen?

• WHAT can be done to prevent resistance?

Don’t look at that!

Don’t look at that!

Turn that thing off!Turn that thing off!

Put it where I can see

it!

Put it where I can see

it!

I don’t trust you!

I don’t trust you!

Research Method

• Internet survey

• 456 parents across USA

• Matched child (10-17 years old) pairs

• Parents: how much would you support

• Kids: how would you feel if your parent

“Positive” Behaviors

On the other hand…

Are there viable solutions?

Avoiding a “Recipe for Disaster– Parents LOVE it– Kids ANGRY

Difference Scores

Predicting disagreement

• Parenting style– When it’s hard to talk to mom and dad– Authoritarian and permissive– Even authoritative have challenges

(tech strats)

• Values (security)• Boys• Older teen for more restrictive

Avoiding “reactance”

• BEST Strategies:– Empowering children to protect themselves– Government and Industry responsibility

• WORST Strategies– Co-viewing– Parental access– Blocks & Filters