Trust for the Study of Adolescence

BACKGROUND AND AIMS OF THE RESEARCH

The background to this research was work undertaken by one of the authors and a colleague into how ‘monitoring and supervision’ works in families (Stace and Roker, 2005). A key finding from this research was the role of mobile phones in communications between young people and parents, in relation to young people’s whereabouts, activities, and safety. However, this issue was not explored in any depth in the previous study.

TSA therefore secured a grant from the Mobile Manufacturers Forum (MMF) and the GSM Association (GSMA) to explore the role of mobile phones in family communication in more detail. The aims of the study were as follows:

• How are mobile phones used in communication between parents and young people in families? For example - how often are they used? Who initiates this contact? What issues or topics are raised? Thus the study aimed to describe the role of mobile phones in family communication in general.
• What factors influence how mobile phones are used in family communication? For example, how do the patterns of mobile phone interaction (above) vary by key factors such as gender (of parents and young people), family type (single versus two-parent households), culture and ethnicity, socio-economic status, locality, etc? Thus the study aimed to identify the key influences on different patterns of mobile phone use in families.
• How are mobile phones used to keep young people safe? How do parents monitor young people’s whereabouts and activities using mobile phones? How do young people use their phones to let their parents know about their whereabouts, or any changes in their plans? How are mobile phones used when young people are having difficulties, or in emergencies? Thus the study aimed to identify strategies that parents and young people have to use mobile phones to keep young people safe.

• Communication and relationships were described in positive terms by parents and young people. Both groups also identified a change with age, with the older age-groups (14 and upwards) spending more time socialising and communicating with friends and peers.
• Young people in rural areas were found to spend more time in the family home, compared to urban young people. Rural young people felt they had less opportunities for leisure and socialising.
• Young people generally kept their parents informed about where they were going and what they were doing. For the younger age groups this was for safety, and for the older ages more of a courtesy to the parents, in case they were worried.
• Young people generally were trusted by their parents. The only exception to this was when a young person had previously lied to a parent.
• Parents were worried about their young person’s safety in relation to a number of factors, including street violence, being kidnapped, and risks from substances.

• Almost all parents described initially purchasing, or letting their child have, a mobile phone for one of two reasons. Either because young people asked for one, or because of young people’s growing independence; this was particularly associated with the move to secondary school.
• Most young people had pay-as-you-go (also known as pre-paid) mobile phones. This gave them control over how much they were spending. Some young people paid their own bills, whilst in other families parents covered the costs.
• Young people used their mobile phone with parents to make arrangements, inform them of changed plans, and deal with any emergencies. They used phones with friends to socialise and make friends.
• Young people had mixed views about the privacy of their mobile phone. A minority did not mind parents seeing the contents of their mobiles. For a majority of young people, however, their mobile was viewed as their private space. They felt particularly strongly that parents should not view the messages or call histories on their mobiles.

• Mobile phone use between parents and young people was mainly in terms of planning and arrangements. However, both parents and young people talked about the importance of mobiles being available for emergencies.
• Monitoring using the mobile was seen by parents as effective and essential. However, parents did highlight problems with mobile use – including young people not hearing their phone, not charging it, or deliberately not answering their phones.
• Parents preferred to speak to young people on their mobiles. This was because they found it reassuring to talk directly to young people, and hear their voice. Most young people, however, preferred to text.
• Parents acknowledged that sometimes young people use texts to communicate about difficult issues, particularly if they were worried about how parents might react.
• Most young people considered that their parents were not very competent in using mobiles, particularly in relation to texting. This was more so for mothers than fathers.
• Most parents saw the phone as their child’s own personal property and said they had never checked or looked at their phone. It was often described as like a ‘diary’, and therefore viewing it would be an invasion of privacy. A small number of parents did view their child’s mobile phones, sometimes with and sometimes without their consent. This was most common when parents were concerned about their child’s behaviour or activities.
• Parents also commented that they would not take their child’s phone away as a punishment. It was felt that doing so could affect young people’s safety.

• For young people, the main benefits of using mobile phones were: ease of communication, safety, and independence. In addition young people mentioned: social reasons, parents being reassured, and keeping in contact with distant family.
• Young people felt they could do more, and felt safer, due to having their mobile phone.
• Whilst it did not apply to a large number, mobiles were used by some young people to have conversations they could not have at home – for example with a non-residential parent or estranged relative.
• Most young people also thought that an additional benefit of mobile phones was that parents were less worried about them. This was particularly true for girls.

Parents

• For parents, the primary benefits of using the mobile phone to monitor and supervise their children were: ease of communication with their child, a safety measure for the child, peace of mind for parents, and independence for the child.
• Mobile phones were seen to ease communication within families, and allayed worry on the part of the parents.

Concerns about using mobile phones

• Parents and young people talked about similar concerns about using mobile phones. The main areas raised were: theft and mugging, bullying and ‘happy slapping’ (an unpleasant incident recorded and circulated by mobile phone), expense, media and peer pressure, and health risks.
• A third of the young people had experienced some kind of unpleasant incident with their mobile phone, such as bullying or happy-slapping. A third more reported it occurring to someone they knew. Parents were much less concerned about the issue.
• Most young people felt there was peer and media pressure to have the ‘right’ phone. Those from lower income families in particular commented on the difficulties of keeping up with their peers in this way.
• Young people and parents were unsure about the health risks of mobile phones. However, both parents and young people said they tried to reduce any risk through limiting the amount of time spent on the mobile phone.
• Parents also identified two further concerns about young people’s mobile phone use – the possibility of communication with strangers, and making their child generally less communicative.

Social influences on mobile phone use

• Gender: Girls were described by both genders as the more significant users of mobiles. They were also thought more attached to their phones, particularly for social purposes. The older girls especially reported very strong feelings towards their mobiles, describing them as vital in their everyday lives.
• Age: Parents and young people believed that mobile phones were not suitable for primary school children. They were best suited for older young people (age 11 plus), who were spending more time away from parents. Parents also described giving their child more independence when they had a mobile. The other age related finding was in parents’ use of mobiles - both groups commented on how parents were generally less adept at using mobile phones, particularly in regards to texting.
• Locality: Both young people and parents justified mobile phone use in relation to the area where they lived – rural locations being more remote, and urban locations having higher levels of crime and safety threats.

General views: Young people and mobile phones

• Both young people and parents felt that mobile phones enhanced safety. They described mobiles as a ‘lifeline’, and a back-up safety measure. Though a few people did believe there was an increased risk in terms of mugging and bullying, most felt the benefits outweighed the negative points.
• The majority of parents did not feel that extra risks were taken by young people as a result of having mobile phones. The general consensus was that if people were going to take risks, they would do so regardless. A few described mobile phones as providing a ‘false sense of security’, but most considered mobile phones to be a positive influence.
• Young people felt considerable pressure to have mobile phones in general, and to have the ‘right kind’ of mobile.
• Overall, both parents and young people were wholly for young people having mobile phones. Safety came out as the top reason (including peace of mind for the parents), followed by ease of communication, independence, and for young people, social reasons – i.e. keeping up with friends.

• This research has provided new and useful findings about the role of mobile phones in family communications, particularly in relation to safety.
• The findings from this study could be translated into materials for parents. This could include short ‘information sheets’ for parents, including ‘hints and tips’ that parents in the study described, focussing on keeping young people safe whilst out of the home, and while using mobile phones.
• The research could be used to produce educational materials for young people. These could focus on how young people can use mobile phones more safely, and how young people can keep themselves safe and reduce risk. These materials could be in the form of a guide, and could be used by practitioners in schools, colleges, youth settings, etc. They could include, for example, the comments from young people in the research about ‘safe phone’ behaviour, including non-conspicuous use, not using mobiles for too long, telling parents and/or school about bullying texts, etc. These hints could be built into discussions, role plays, and exercises, bringing the research to life for use in the classroom.
• The findings also raise questions for future research. These include:
  • The research has described patterns of mobile phone communication between young people and their parents. The research also hinted at a range of issues in mobile phone communication between young people and their friends – this has not been explored using qualitative methods. A key area for future research is how young people use mobiles to communicate and maintain friendships and romantic relationships.
  • There is little information available about how young people use their mobiles to get information and advice, for example in relation to practical issues (such as careers information) or more sensitive issues (such as sexual health advice). This is an important area for future research.
  • This study explored patterns of mobile phone use retrospectively, by asking young people about their patterns of use. In addition, however, the authors used a diary methodology, to look at the realities of mobile phone use over the course of seven days. It is considered that a more detailed study of mobile phone use over time, using a broader range of methodologies, would be useful. This could include, for example, diaries completed over a one month period, or using texts to prompt young people to record their mobile phone use over the last 24 hours. This would provide much more detailed information than is currently available about the realities of young people’s mobile worlds.

Kerry Devitt and Debi Roker
For further information contact Debi Roker
Trust for the Study of Adolescence
November 2006