Teenagers around the world use technology to keep in touch. But what are the rules? And who in the family decides what is okay? Ericsson ConsumerLab conducted an online study of 2000 US teenagers, aged 13-17, to find out. The study found that even if children have more say in how to use technology, parents are still much involved in how and when their young teenagers are using computers, mobile phones and Facebook. Facebook and "how to use the computer" are the two things parents seem to have strict rules about, especially for those aged 13-14. Around 30 percent of parents typically make the decisions for their children at this age.

1. Technology usage
and social life –
do teenagers have
a say?
ConsumerLab
www.ericsson.com/consumerlab

2. Teenagers have more
say in how and when to
use technology than
who to socialize with
There are few parents who let their children decide entirely who they can socialize with,
even at the age of 17. Meeting friends in real life seems to create more concerns than
meeting friends online.
When it comes to technology, children have more say
Even if children have more say in how to use
technology, parents are still much involved in how
and when their young teenagers are using computers,
mobile phones and Facebook. Facebook and “how to
use the computer” are the two things parents seem to
have strict rules about, especially for those aged 13-14.
Around 30 percent of parents typically make the decision
for their children at this age.
Parents decide completely
Both decides
Decide completely yourself
Parents mostly decide
Decide mostly yourself
Source: Ericsson ConsumerLab On-line study 2011 with 2000 US teenagers 13-17 years old.
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
13 14 15 16 17
Socialize with
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
13 14 15 16 17
Mobile phones
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
13 14 15 16 17
Computer
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
13 14 15 16 17
Facebook

3. Age and parenting style matters
The parents’ decision-making for their teenagers is a
combination of their consideration of the child’s age and
their parenting style. By understanding the parenting
style, we can also predict how decisions are made about
technology usage.
Apparently something happens when children turn 16,
as many more of them can make their own decisions at
that age. Most parents let go of full control at this age,
except for the more authoritarian parents, who retain
their say in all age groups.
Ericsson ConsumerLab has translated the teenagers’ view into a model
built on Maccoby and Martin’s theory of family styles.
Source: Ericsson ConsumerLab On-line study 2011 with 2000 US teenagers 13-17 years old.
Noticeably, the majority of teenagers and parents jointly
decide things (democratic parenting style). And there is
hardly any difference in how the parents make decisions
for the different genders.
Five parenting styles seen
from the teenagers’ view
Authoritarian – The parents have strict rules, with
limitations on not only how to use certain devices
but also where you can use them. (9%)
Directive – These parents are demanding but also
responsive. (14%)
Democratic – Their decision-making process is
more participatory and more inclusive. The parents
and children decide together. (50%)
Permissive – Allow considerable self-regulation,
and avoid confrontation. The children decide a lot
themselves. (15%)
Low involvement – These parents are low in both
responsiveness and demands. The children make
their own decisions. (12%)
Authoritarian
Low
involvement
Demanding
Undemanding
Responsive Unresponsive
Democratic
Permissive
Directive

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What are you allowed to have in your own room?
Around 85-90 percent of teenagers between 13-17 are
allowed to have their mobile and iPod touch in their
room. The great majority also have a TV in their room.
And there is no difference between ages or gender.
It is a tough call to get permission to use your
computer in your own room
With the computer there is a different story. Only half
of the 13 year olds were allowed to have a computer in
their room. Even at the age of 17, 34 percent of boys and
28 percent of girls are not allowed to have a computer in
their room. Clearly there is a difference in how parents
view the mobile and the computer.
Parents – Watch out!
Around 40 percent of the US teenagers in the age
group 13-17 have a smartphone. And if you are not
using one today, you certainly would like to have one.
This means that most teenagers in a few years’ time
will have a smartphone that can be used in the same
way as a computer. It is time for parents to reevaluate
the mobile phone or maybe even more important: to
learn how it works.
Ownership of mobile phones
Source: Ericsson ConsumerLab On-line study 2011 with 2000 US teenagers 13-17 years old.
Children “wear the technology” as the adults will
never fully catch up
Children’s knowledge about technology mostly
exceeds that of their parents – and that gives them a
natural advantage in the decision process. Nowadays
it is not uncommon for children to help out in both
purchase decisions as well as solving technology
issues in the home.
This might explain the generation gap in how much
parents understand how technology can and is being
used by their children. How many understand that an
iPod touch or mobile phone can be used as a computer?
This might mean that it will be harder for the authoritarian
and directive parents to retain full control – because
their children will be one step ahead both in technology
knowledge and usage.
Even if the internet is used by all age groups, there is
still a difference in how important it is for different
generations. A total of 57 percent of teenagers
completely agree that “it is important to have access
to the internet wherever I am,” compared to only
24 percent of the seniors. Teenagers do not have a
problem using new technology while 40 percent of
the seniors need help using it.
Source: Ericsson ConsumerLab Infocom Study 2011.
The key learnings are that teenagers’ technology
usage not only depends on their age, but also on what
parenting style their parents have. Another important
factor is what knowledge the parents themselves have
of technology, which will help to form their opinions
and, in turn, influence their children’s technology usage.
32
55
13
32
60
14
44
53
15
42
55
16
48 49
17
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Smartphone Regular phone
24%
41%
35%
23%
57%
10%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Seniors Parents Teenagers
For me to use a new
technology product,
somebody has to show
me how to use it
It’s important for me to
be able to access the
Internet wherever I am