Cell-phones as 'mom-avoidance' devices
Categories: Just for moms, Teens & tweens, Gadgets & tech
When answering machines first became affordable, I ran right out and got one. How great to be able to communicate with others without having to actually talk to them! These days, of course, our options for impersonal communication have increased. With the advent of email, instant messaging and text-messaging, one could conceivably go for days without actually having to speak to another person. According to this article, such non-verbal communication has big-time appeal for the average teenager.
Stephen Saiz, manager of consumer insight and strategy of the Walt Disney Internet Group's North American mobile division, says that text-messaging has become a handy parent-avoidance device for many teens. "Teens are pushing their parents to go on mobile because they don't really want to communicate with them directly," he said.
Because of this, more and more parents are jumping on the texting bandwagon. Saiz says that most of the older people using their cell phone mobile applications are mothers who were pushed into the world of texting by their kids. And why don't kids want to talk to mom on the phone? Saiz believes it is due to the fact that they are busy pursuing much more important activities: playing video games and hanging with their friends.
Does this happen to you? Do you call your child's phone only to end up in voice mail? Does your kid respond to you with a text message? Is this okay with you?
Stephen Saiz, manager of consumer insight and strategy of the Walt Disney Internet Group's North American mobile division, says that text-messaging has become a handy parent-avoidance device for many teens. "Teens are pushing their parents to go on mobile because they don't really want to communicate with them directly," he said.
Because of this, more and more parents are jumping on the texting bandwagon. Saiz says that most of the older people using their cell phone mobile applications are mothers who were pushed into the world of texting by their kids. And why don't kids want to talk to mom on the phone? Saiz believes it is due to the fact that they are busy pursuing much more important activities: playing video games and hanging with their friends.
Does this happen to you? Do you call your child's phone only to end up in voice mail? Does your kid respond to you with a text message? Is this okay with you?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Baron 7-21-2008 @ 2:01PM
Time to tap out a text message of much length on a typical phone (for me) = 20 seconds to a minute for a more detailed message. Time to pick up the phone, call and get/give the information I need = 10 seconds (being a guy, generally a simple, yeah, I'm home is all that is needed). Texting is too impersonal, I really find it easier to just call people. It is nice for a long, all day conversation though I suppose. Oh well, when my daughter is old enough for a cell phone, it will not be for "pushing" me into texting. Since when do kids get to push their parents in the first place? Are parents big push overs these days? I guess, taking a look at all the "change" talked about on the tv, I suppose they are.
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skippy 7-23-2008 @ 1:54AM
Interesting. I'm hardly a kid anymore at over 30 and it seems to me that text is the only way my mother talks to anybody in our family. I guess for us it's the other way around... we call, she texts. Maybe these kids will tell their parents more since they aren't actually talking to them?
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