Joint research from Life360 and Spriggy has revealed 37% of parents are now using technology regularly to support their parenting. This category of parenting tech includes things like location sharing-apps, screen-time controls and digital pocket money platforms.
The reasons parents are turning to technology vary, but peace of mind is the most frequently cited.
| Reason | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Peace of mind | 65 |
| Staying connected without hovering | 56 |
| Feeling more confident saying yes to independence | 54 |
| Teaching responsibility | 47 |
The research found that, despite assumptions, "Gentle parents" - those typically associated as approaching child care with empathy were the biggest users of parenting tech (49%), followed by F*** Around and Find Out (41%), Koala (33%) and Free-Range (32%) parenting styles.
According to the data, age 12 is now the most common time for children to be given a raft of responsibilities by parents of all types, their first set of house keys, learning to manage their finances, and, of course, their first mobile phone.
Psychologist and family expert Collett Smart told WhistleOut, "Open, honest conversations are at the heart of any healthy relationship, digital or otherwise... kids aren’t always going to love the rules their parents set, but when they understand the 'why' behind them, they’re far more likely to respect these boundaries."
"Technology can become counterproductive if it is used from a place of anxiety, as children quickly pick up on that tension and can start to worry the world is unsafe. The aim isn’t to eliminate every risk - it’s to teach kids how to handle them."
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Dylan Crismale
Digital Content Editor
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