Parents From Different Cultures Share Views of Tech at Home

With Pranav Sundararajan 

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Dad Terry Zhang is a local Beijinger. The former competitive fitness champion now works at Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) as their Athletics and Activities Admin and Liaison Officer, organizing after school activities for its students. Mom Wanna Song works in a travel company as the finance manager. The couple spends as much of their free time as possible with their 14-year-old son Luke Zhang.

When did you (or will you) give your child their own cell phone?

We gave our son his first phone when he was ten years old.

Do you think that having access to phones helps or hinders your child’s mental development?

Nowadays phones have many functions and features. We realize that it not only expands the connections and interactions between people and societies, but it is also a platform to continuously learn new things and update ideas. For young people, it’s a way of obtaining information and knowledge.

Are you concerned about them spending too much time on their phone? What’s your solution for this?

I feel that encouraging more face-to-face communication and reading of books can help reduce time spent on the phone. Excessive internet browsing and phone usage will 1) severely impact visual health, 2) discourage people to attend face-to-face, outdoor social activities, and 3) promote negativity and unhealthy practices.

Do you believe there are child predators online? If so, how do you deal with them?

I believe that child predators exist both online and offline.

Did you (or will you) talk to your kids about the dangers of posting personal information online?

Yes.

Do you have a social media account? If so, how many hours a day do you spend on it?

Yeah, I am on it for about six hours a day.

Do you post photos of your child on your social media account? Do you think it’s safe?

Not regularly. Posting on social media isn’t a way for us to experience happiness as a family. More importantly, posting photos of children can create an environment for criminals and child predators to thrive in.

Does your child have a social media account? If so, are you concerned about the content they post on there?

Yes, and in fact, I do not object to my child registering for and using social media platforms. I often discuss with him some of the latest social media apps and websites currently on the market. However, I do realize that there is content out there on the internet that is not particularly suitable for teenagers, and parents really need to guide their children with regards to safe content online and communicate with them psychologically about posting on social media.

Did you install parental control apps or limits on your child’s phone? If so, which one do you recommend for other parents? If not, why?

No, I have not installed parental control apps or limits on my child’s phone.

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Mom Sherri and dad Tom Pedrick are both teachers at Beijing International Bilingual Academy (BIBA). The couple has three children, Lincoln (age 14), Harry (age 12), and Quincy (age 9), who are all students at BIBA. The Pedrick family is originally from New Hampshire in the US and have been in Beijing for over a year now.

When did you (or will you) give your children their own cell phone?

We gave Lincoln a non-smartphone at the age of ten because he and Harry were in a play with a local theater group and we wanted them to be able to call or text when they were finished with rehearsal. Lincoln got a smartphone on his 12th birthday. Harry also has a phone now, but leaves it at home and only uses it for games or talking with his family and friends.

Do you think that having access to phones helps or hinders your children’s mental development?

I think that having access to phones with limits helps your children’s development. It teaches communication, problem-solving, and self-control. Every app that is on our kids’ phones has been checked by us, and we monitor the webpages our kids go to and the messages they send.

Are you concerned about them spending too much time on their phone?  What’s your solution for this?

We have strict limits on how much time our kids use devices, both during the week and on the weekends. They can earn additional time by doing extra work around the house or helping another family member. We also make sure they complete their homework, spend time outside, and read each day.

Do you believe there are child predators online? If so, how do you deal with them?

Yes, we believe there are child predators online. We teach our kids about internet safety and teach them to be responsible digital citizens to protect them.

Did you (or will you) talk to your kids about the dangers of posting personal information online?

Yes, we have talked many times about posting on social media. We will continue to discuss these dangers as social media changes frequently.

Do you have a social media account? If so, how many hours a day do you spend on it?

Both Sherri and I have social media accounts, but we spend no more than 30 minutes a day on them, sometimes much less.

Do you post photos of your children on your social media account?  Do you think it’s safe?

Yes, we post photos of our kids and our adventures on Facebook. But we know all of our friends well, and ensure that our privacy setting is set so only those people can see our photos.  We do feel safe posting pictures of our children.

Do your children have a social media account? If so, are you concerned about the content they post there?

Our children don’t have social media accounts, and they will not have social media accounts until they are much older. We think a digital footprint is an adult responsibility with unforeseeable long-lasting outcomes and not one that a child is able to manage.

Did you install parental control apps or limits on your children’s phones? If so, which one do you recommend for other parents? If not, why?

We don’t use parental control apps on our kids’ devices. We physically monitor their phones and devices rather than trusting an app; that way they make good choices where ever they are instead of relying on software to monitor usage. We also feel like we protect them by educating them about proper use and safety when it comes to technology. We recommend to other parents that they have positive ongoing discussions with their kids about social media.

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Photos: Uni You, Courtesy of Families 

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