Published November 3, 202
GRIFFIN STEELY
Forty years ago, mobile phones were nonexistent and technology was much more limited. Technology today has become much more advanced and involved in everyday life, and this shift has played a role in parental control, especially when comparing those who were adolescents in the ‘80s and ‘90s to teenagers nowadays.
Tessie Mearns grew up in rural Carmel Valley, the same area in which she raises her kids. courtesy of AIDEN MEARNS
Today, there are different issues and challenges that current parents have to take into consideration, such as screen time.
In a Sandpiper survey provided to Carmel High School freshmen, 47% of 132 respondents reported spending between 1 to 2 hours per day on watching TV or on social media, while 20% indicated 3 to 4 hours of this sort of screen time, and nearly 11% said they spent 5 or more hours per day on social media and TV.
Freshman Aiden Mearns likes to spend time with his friends and girlfriend outside of school. courtesy of AIDEN MEARNS
“Technology has given me more freedom,” says freshman Aiden Mearns. “I can easily communicate with my parents and make the plan as we go.”
While an important part of society today, providing a wide range of benefits, mobile phones come with downsides that must be acknowledged.
“Screen time makes us more isolated and less likely to do stuff,” says Tessie Mearns, Aiden’s mother.
When adolescents spend time away from their screens, like when they’re exploring the outdoors, most CHS freshmen report that their parents strive to support teens’ adventurous spirit. In the previously mentioned survey, 42% of students reported that their parents give them permission to explore as far as they want, and another 46% indicated their parents still allowed them to roam around the neighborhood.
“As a kid, my parents wanted me in their sight,” explains freshman Elliot Smith. “As I’ve gotten older, they have let me go farther and have become a lot less strict.”
Other respondents explained that their parents have guidelines more similar to the ones they grew up with.
Freshman Austin Lin going on a hike in his free time. courtesy of AUSTIN LIN.
“My parents let me go out with my friends whenever, as long as I have all my work done and have a ride,” says freshman Austin Lin.
Similar to Smith, 56% of freshmen ranked their parents a “4” on an ascending scale from 1-5 on how much freedom they are given outside of school, with “5” being the most freedom.
Lin’s parents, Jennifer and Jimmy Lin, had different experiences when they were young. Jennifer Lin says that her parents barely gave her freedom beyond studying, while Jimmy Lin says his parents allowed him a more-than-average amount of freedom.
As a youngster, Jimmy Lin was given was given a lot of freedom outside of school. courtesy of AUSTIN LI
These different upbringings can play a role in their parenting styles later in life.
“I give my kids a little bit more freedom because I want them to be happier,” says Jennifer Lin, but she and her husband express that there is a line to be drawn.
“There are also dangers in having too much freedom,” says Jimmy Lin. “It can lead to injury and safety concerns.”
Other families share a similar experience of blending parenting strategies, like freshman Fiona Malone’s parents, Nick and Cora.
Nick Malone says his parents were considerably less strict in comparison to Cora’s parents, whom she explains gave her little freedom in her adolescence. These two styles of parenting evened out and Fiona ranked her parents as a 3 out of 5 on the freedom scale.
Another factor the respondents of the survey took into account was homework. For some students and their parents, their course load and grades are crucial to the amount of freedom they get. Austin Lin explained his parents have given him the responsibility to get his work done on time, and thus he is able to make his own plans with friends. This balance is an important skill that his parents have taught him, and Austin says he can self-manage when he needs to study and when he can go out.
Among CHS freshmen, the freedom students are allotted by their parents appears to be a reflection of how their parents were raised and the technology that influences their social opportunities.
