Parenting the Net Generation
Parenting the Net Generation
Torrance Memorial Hospital
April 15, 2008
Larry Rosen, Ph.D
CSU Dominguez Hills
Parenting the Net Generation
Welcome to the “Media” Generation
According to the Kaiser Family
Foundation 2005 National Study
Children Spend 6 Hours and 21 Minutes
PER DAY using digital media or 44
hours PER WEEK
Accounting for Multitasking, this
increases to 8 Hours 33 Minutes PER
DAY or 60 HOURS PER WEEK
Parenting the Net Generation
We are in the Midst of Three Vastly
Different Generations That Differ on
Personal and Work Values
Baby Boomers (born 1946-1964)
Generation X (born 1965-1979)
Net Generation (born after 1979)
Parenting the Net Generation
WHAT ARE THEY DOING
WITH THEIR MEDIA?
Here are data from my 2007 study
Parenting the Net Generation
HOURS OF DAILY TECHNOLOGY USE
(only those who use each technology)
TECHNOLOGY
HOURS/DAY
NET
GENERATION
GENERATION X
BABY BOOMERS
Online
2:31
1:58
1:14
On Computer
2:08
2:32
1:41
E-Mail
1:26
1:37
1:14
IM/Chat
1:45
0:36
0:14
Telephone
2:02
1:47
1:38
Texting
2:20
1:07
0:28
Video Games
1:08
0:31
0:13
Music
3:33
2:35
1:44
Television
2:37
2:12
2:25
TOTAL DAILY
TECHNOLOGY
USE
20:38
14:55
7:51
Parenting the Net Generation
HOW IS THAT
POSSIBLE?
Don’t these kids ever
sleep?
Of course they do
(although not
enough).
The key is
MULTITASKING
Parenting the Net Generation
Multitasking With Free Time
N
u
m
b
e
r
o
f
T
a
s
k
s
Net Generation
Generation X
Baby Boomers
Parenting the Net Generation
Has Multitasking
Gone Too Far?
Parenting the Net Generation
Why Do They Multitask so
Much?
One explanation is the rapid
pace of technological change
Parenting the Net Generation
The Pace of Technology Change is Dizzying
Years to Reach 50
Million Users
What’s Next?
Parenting the Net Generation
Another possible explanation is a change
in communication style and preferences
• Net Geners prefer asynchronous
communication tools
• They spend more hours texting than
talking on the telephone (2:20 vs. 2:02)
• They love to IM and Chat (1:45)
• They spend hours on MySpace and
Facebook (2:30 at a minimum)
Parenting the Net Generation
Look at How Much They Use These
Asynchronous Tools
OVERALL HOURS PER DAY USING
ASYNCHRONOUS COMMUNICATION
TOOLS BY GENERATION
(E-Mail, IM, Chat, Text Messaging)
Net Generation
5:31
Generation X
3:20
Baby Boomers
1:56
Parenting the Net Generation
Plus, They Text Message Substantially
More Than “Older” Generations
AVERAGE NUMBER OF TEXT
MESSAGES PER MONTH BY
GENERATION
(only for those who use text messaging)
Net Generation
511
Generation X
232
Baby Boomers
24
Parenting the Net Generation
One of their favorite online
activities is spending time on
MySpace, Facebook, or other social
networking websites
Parenting the Net Generation
What’s so Special About MySpace?
• Fastest Growing Website in History
• More Traffic than ANY Other Website
• 110 MILLION Unique Visitors a Month
• 5th Largest Country in the World
• 80% of 12- to 17-year-olds use MySpace
Weekly!
Parenting the Net Generation
What Do They Do on MySpace?
• Collect “Friends”
• Provide Personal Information
• Display Photos
• Play Music
• Create Blogs
• Get Public Comments from “friends”
• IM/Chat with “Friends”
Parenting the Net Generation
FOR MANY PRE-TEENS,
TEENS, AND YOUNG ADULTS
MYSPACE IS THEIR
SOCIAL LIFE
Parenting the Net Generation
How are Net Geners Unique?
• They were born into a world replete with
technology
• MySpace is all-consuming
• The MySpace profile is central to their social
lives
• They use MySpace for making friends
• They use MySpace for trying on different
identities
PARENTING IS MORE DIFFICULT NOW
THAN IN ANY PREVIOUS GENERATION
Parenting the Net Generation
Overall the generations clearly differ in:
• The amount of technology they use on
a daily basis
• The types of technology they use
• How much they multitask with these
technologies
Parenting the Net Generation
NOW I WILL FOCUS ON HOW
THESE GENERATIONAL
DIFFERENCES IMPACT THE HOME
WHERE PARENTS INCLUDE
MEMBERS OF GENERATION X AND
THE BABY BOOMER GENERATION
WHILE THEIR CHILDREN ARE
FROM THE NET GENERATION.
Parenting the Net Generation
We live in world where rapid
change is the norm. For many, it
is stressful. For Net Geners, it is
the only way they know how to
live their lives.
Parenting the Net Generation
Which Technologies Do the
Different Generations Use?
Parenting the Net Generation
PERCENTAGE OF THE THREE GENERATIONS WHO
USE EACH TECHNOLOGY
Parenting the Net Generation
To better understand how to
parent a Net Gener, it is important
to focus on the differences
between these children, teens, and
young adults and their Gen X and
Baby Boomer parents in terms of
their personal and work values.
Parenting the Net Generation
WORK VALUES: Baby Boomers
Single Lifetime Job
Fiercely Loyal to Company
Work is Life/Personally Fulfilling
Avoid Making Waves
Everyone has a Voice – Boss Sets the Rules
Team Player – Loves Meetings
Parenting the Net Generation
WORK VALUES: Baby Boomers
(continued)
Routines are Important
Process vs. Product
Face-to-Face or Telephone Communication
Learned Technology After School
Motivated by Being “Valued”
Parenting the Net Generation
WORK VALUES: Generation X
Multiple Jobs to Find a “Career”
Work to Have More Fun in Life
Self-Reliant: Set Own Time Plan
Challenge Authority: Ask Why
Motivated by Rewards at the End of Every
Project
Parenting the Net Generation
WORK VALUES: Generation X
(continued)
Grew Up With Technology
Prefer Cell Phone or E-Mail Communication
Want Immediate Access to Bosses
Good Multitaskers
Product vs. Process: They Hate Meetings
Parenting the Net Generation
WORK VALUES: Net Generation
Build a Career Through Skill Acquisition
Balance Between Life and Work
Goal Oriented But Collegiality Important
Want Meaningful Work – Not Boredom
Motivated by Working with Bright/Creative
People and Learning New Skills
Parenting the Net Generation
WORK VALUES: Net Generation
(continued)
Need Constant, Instantaneous Feedback
Communicate via IM, Chat, Texting
Grew Up With Everything Technological
Multitaskers to the Nth Degree
Parenting the Net Generation
PERSONAL VALUES
Baby Boomers
Optimistic and Self-Confident
Beginnings of Fractured Family Structure
Politically Active
Buy Now, Pay Later
Parenting the Net Generation
PERSONAL VALUES
Generation X
Skeptical and Low Trust of Authority
Latchkey Kids
Political Apathy
Monetarily Conservative: Save Save Save
Parenting the Net Generation
PERSONAL VALUES
Net Generation
Realistic World View – Trust Authority
Blended Families – Strong Family Bonds
Political and Community Action
Earn to Spend
Parenting the Net Generation
Clearly these three generations
are different on many
dimensions. These differences
become issues to consider
when parenting children,
teens, and young adults
Parenting the Net Generation
• Process vs. Product
• In-Person vs. Online Meetings
• Communication Modalities
• Work Schedules: Rigid vs. Flex
• Motivational Tools
• Reinforcements and Rewards
• Collegiality
• Work vs. Play (Time Off)
• Career Expectations
Parenting the Net Generation
HOW DO TECHNOLOGY USE AND
PARENTING STYLE IMPACT
PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH?
My Recent Research With Parents,
Pre-Teens, Teens, and Young Adults
Answers Some of These Questions
Parenting the Net Generation
FIVE STUDIES
 Study 1: February 2006
N = 1,257 MySpacers; 241 Teenagers
 Study 2: June 2006
N = 267 Parent-Teen Pairs
 Study 3: September 2006
N = 342 Parent-Teen Pairs
 Study 4: March 2007
N = 482 Parent-Teen Pairs
 Study 5: September 2007
N = 1,319 Pre-Teens, Teens, and Adults
Parenting the Net Generation
Kids
MySpace Behaviors
MySpace Experiences
MySpace Attitudes
Parent-Teen Attachment
Parent-Teen Intimacy
Self-Esteem
Internet Addiction
Depression
Online/Offline Honesty
Online/Offline Shyness
Online Social Confidence
Parents
Parenting Style
Computer Location
Parent Awareness of Online
Behavior
Limits on Media Use
(Internet, MySpace,
Video Games, etc.)
Parent Concerns
(Sexual Solicitation,
Cyberbullying,
Pornography, etc.)
Parenting the Net Generation
PARENTING STYLE
Two Dimensions
Control/Demandingness/Strictness/Supervision
“My parents know exactly where I am most
afternoons after school”
Warmth/Responsiveness/Parental Involvement
“I can count on my parent to help me out if I
have some kind of problem.”
Parenting the Net Generation
High Warmth
High Strictness
High Warmth
Low Strictness
AUTHORITATIVE
PARENTING
INDULGENT
PARENTING
Low Warmth
High Strictness
Low Warmth
Low Strictness
AUTHORITARIAN
PARENTING
NEGLECTFUL
PARENTING
Parenting the Net Generation
Parenting Styles
Parenting the Net Generation
Parenting the Net Generation
Parenting the Net Generation
Parenting the Net Generation
April 7, 2008
Study Ties Bedroom TV to Unhealthy
Habits in Teens
Teens With TVs in Rooms Have Lower Grades,
Poorer Diets
Parenting the Net Generation
Parenting the Net Generation
Parenting the Net Generation
Parenting the Net Generation
Parenting the Net Generation
Parenting the Net Generation
Parenting the Net Generation
CONCLUSIONS
Parenting style impacts the online
behaviors, psychological health, and
attitudes of children, teens, and young
adults.
Parenting the Net Generation
IMPLICATIONS
Overall, Authoritative parenting
setting clear limits with warmth,
caring, and teen input
positively impacts all aspects of
teen interactions with MySpace.
Parenting the Net Generation
RECOMMENDATIONS
Develop an Authoritative Parenting Style
• Do set rules and limits on technology use and
behavior
• Do ask your children for their thoughts and
ideas about these rules and limits
• Set consequences for violations
Parenting the Net Generation
RECOMMENDATIONS
“Proactive vs. Reactive Parenting”
• Have Discussions in Advance
• Set Consequences in Advance
• When Something “New” Pops up Use
Reactive Parenting
Parenting the Net Generation
THE T.A.L.K.
MODEL OF PARENTING
• Trust
• Assess
• Learn
• “K”ommunicate
Parenting the Net Generation
TRUST
• No Clandestine Eavesdropping
• No Technological Filters
• Discuss, Don’t Remove/Punish
Parenting the Net Generation
ASSESS
• Pay Attention to Technology Use
• Consider Technology Location
• Practice Co-Viewing
• Establish a Habit of Overt Observation
• Visit Their MySpace – Often – and Pay
Attention to Their “Friends”
Parenting the Net Generation
LEARN
• Gain Knowledge
• Learn From Your Children
• Create Your Own MySpace/Facebook Page
• Try ALL Their Technologies. Ask Them to
Show You How to Use Them (IM, text, video
games, YouTube, and Whatever is the Next
Big Rage)
Parenting the Net Generation
“K”ommunicate
• Have Proactive Family Discussions – Often
but Short
• Create More “Face Time” Through Family
Dinners or Evening Games/TV Watching
• Use Any Opportunity to Communicate –
Don’t Let Kids Escape Through Technology
Parenting the Net Generation
PRACTICE GOOD BEHAVIORAL
PARENTING
• Punish only when needed and practice “Least
Restrictive Alternatives”
• Catch Them Being Good
• Model Appropriate Behavior (TV, phone)
• Monitor Sleep Habits & Caffeine Consumption
• Control Impulse to Yank the Plug
Parenting the Net Generation
Using Net Gen Language:
Thk u vry mch 4 ur time.
NE q’s 4 me?
