Parents and Teens Talk Mobile Device Use

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 1, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mobile devices are rewiring the way parents and teens connect with one another in many countries across the globe. As part of an ongoing global mapping project designed to understand the effect of these devices on parent-teen relationships, the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and Common Sense Media today released a report titled The New Normal: Parents, Teens and Mobile Devices in the United Kingdom.

Based on a comprehensive survey conducted in June 2018 of more than 1,200 teens and parents across the U.K., the study explores mobile device use among parents and teens and compares the responses with existing data from both Japan and the United States.

The results indicate U.K. teens and parents feel mobile devices are daily distractions in family life and, for some, an emerging source of conflict. Parents and teens both said they "feel addicted" to their devices, with 27 percent of parents and 48 percent of teens reporting that they check their devices within five minutes of waking up each day. Those concerns sit alongside feelings of optimism about the benefits of mobile technology.

"At this moment, when it seems that every personal interaction involves a mobile device, we need to dig deeper into the media habits and attitudes of parents and teens," said USC Annenberg Dean Willow Bay. "With this latest report, we hope to offer timely and thoughtful analysis that will spark a new wave of global interest, research and conversation."

The new study compares the U.K. data with a similar survey conducted in Japan in 2017, and with 2016 U.S. data from Common Sense Media on digital device use among families. More U.K. parents felt addicted to their devices than parents in the U.S. (46 percent vs. 27 percent). In addition, teens in the U.K. were less concerned than their American counterparts about spending too much time on their devices. More American parents and teens reported arguing daily about mobile device use than did families in the U.K. and Japan. Yet, the majority of parents and teens in the U.K., the U.S. and Japan felt that teens' use of mobile devices has had no effect on parent-teen relationships.

Despite reporting some conflict over device use, parents and teens in the three countries expressed optimism about the benefits of these tools, including helping teens learn technological skills.

"We know that parents, caregivers, healthcare practitioners and educators are increasingly concerned about the impact device use has on children's social, emotional and cognitive well-being," said James P. Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense. "This research contributes invaluably to our understanding of how to maximize the positive aspects of technology at home and in school and minimize the downsides." 

About Common Sense Media
Common Sense is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21^st century. For more information visit www.commonsense.org.

About the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
Located in Los Angeles at the University of Southern California, USC Annenberg is a global leader in education and scholarship in the fields of communication, journalism, public diplomacy and public relations, offering doctoral, master's and bachelor's degree programs, as well as continuing development programs for working professionals.

Ted B. Kissell
USC Annenberg 
Tel: 213-740-6302
[email protected]

Colby Zintl
Common Sense
Tel: 415-732-9944
[email protected]

SOURCE USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

Related Links

https://www.annenberg.usc.edu