Managing digital safety weighs on parents

A new study has found there is a considerable digital burden on parents as they try to mitigate the risks associated with their children using mobile phones and the internet.

Common concerns raised include the affects of too much screen time on children’s physical and mental health, development and education.

The research, from the University of South Australia, suggested this pressure was particularly affecting mothers.

UniSA researcher Dr Fae Heaselgrave describes the burden as “digital care work”, which involves mothers monitoring their children’s digital activity, familiarising themselves with social media platforms and coming up with strategies to manage their children’s media use.

“At a societal level, we already know that the use of mobile phones, laptops, and computers in the home is more prevalent than ever,” she said.

“Families in Australia own on average almost eight digital devices, with children owning up to three devices each.

“What we don’t know as much about is the effect children’s digital media use has on a mother’s role.

“Digital care work – which is an extension of the wider unpaid care role mothers provide in the home – is more often the domain of women, as mothers tend to be the primary caregiver.

“This means the increased use of digital devices is having a bigger impact on mums in terms of demanding more time, energy and mental and cognitive work, which can also affect their career choices and paid work patterns.”

In a series of interviews with Adelaide mothers of children aged 9 to 16, Dr Heaselgrave found digital care work intensified modern mothering by requiring more time and energy to monitor children’s digital media use.

Some mothers remarked digital homework – which requires use of tablets or laptops rather than traditional pens, paper and textbooks – can make it difficult to set rules or guidelines around media use because children need to use a device to complete school-related work.

“The fact that devices also provide many sources of distraction, including those for entertainment and social interactivity, adds another layer of complexity to digital care”, Dr Heaselgrave said.

Using different strategies, such as restricting or monitoring their children’s digital use, or actively engaging in and learning more about it by speaking with children about their use, reflected some of the digital care work mothers were engaging in.

Mothers also negotiate for greater access to digital media for their children. Mother-of-two Olivia said her husband, who regularly restricts their daughter’s phone use, lacked understanding about the importance of digital media in their children’s lives.

“I don’t know if he’s forgotten what it’s like to be a teenager, but friends are everything when you are a teenager, and if you are out of touch with them even for five hours, that can be disastrous.”

Dr Heaselgrave saud the research found the range of digital care work was intense, constant and unyielding, and can take a physical and emotional toll on mothers.

“Even from the workplace mothers are always ‘mothering’ as they manage phone messages with children throughout the day, to co-ordinate school pick-ups and check on their welfare.

“This intensity might explain why some mums encourage children to use digital media, so they themselves can take a break.”