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THE ROLE OF MOBILE PHONES IN FAMILY COMMUNICATION Kerry Devitt and Debi Roker A report on research funded by the Mobile Manufacturers Forum (MMF) and the GSM Association (GSMA) Trust for the Study of Adolescence (TSA) 23 New Road Brighton BN1 1WZ UK www.tsa.uk.com November 2006 CONTENTS Executive summary 3 Acknowledgements 9 1.0 Introduction 10 1.1 TSA’s research into ‘monitoring and supervision’ in families 1.2 Young people and mobile phones: what do we know? 1.3 Aims of the research 2.0 Sample and methods 14 2.1 Aims of the research 2.2 Research methods and tools 2.3 Recruitment methods and data collection 2.4 Details of the sample 2.5 Data analysis 3.0 Young people’s views and experiences 20 3.1 Family relationships 3.2 Planning in the family: Whereabouts and activities 3.3 How young people use their mobile phones 3.4 Benefits and concerns about using mobile phones 3.5 Social influences on mobile phone use 3.6 Mobile phones and internet use 3.7 General views: young people and mobile phones 3.8 Findings from the personal records 4.0 Parents’ views and experiences 49 4.1 Family relationships 4.2 Planning in the family: How do parents monitor young people’s whereabouts and activities 4.3 The role of mobile phones in monitoring and supervision 4.4 Benefits and concerns in relation to mobile phone use 4.5 Social influences on mobile phone use 4.6 Young people’s internet use 4.7 General views: young people and mobile phones 4.8 Findings from the personal records 5.0 Conclusions, implications and next steps 82 5.1 Summary of the results 5.2 General conclusions 5.3 Implications and next steps References 91 Appendices 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 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. METHODS AND SAMPLE A qualitative methodology was used in the study. Individual interviews were undertaken with one young person and one/two of their parents, involving 60 families in total. The individual interviews explored communication and relationships in the family, focussing on the role of mobile phones in this, in particular in relation to monitoring young people’s safety. In addition, each participant was asked to complete a daily diary, detailing their mobile phone use, over the same seven day period. 3 MAIN FINDINGS Family relationships, and monitoring and supervision arrangements in general (which provide the context to the research) 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. How do young people use their mobile phones? 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. How are mobile phones used in communication, and monitoring and supervision? 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. 4 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. Most young people considered that their parents were not very competent in using mobiles, particularly in relation to texting (short-term messages, or SMS). 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. Parents saw young people’s mobile phone as primarily the child’s responsibility or as a joint responsibility with parents, particularly in relation to paying for it. This strategy was often described in terms of helping young people develop responsibility and independence. Benefits of using mobile phones Young people 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. 5 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. Parents and young people in urban areas were more worried about muggings and theft compared to those in rural areas, usually because of their direct experience of it. A third of the young people had experienced some kind of unpleasant incident with their mobile phone, such as bullying or happy-slapping.