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There is not one "best way" for parents to help manage students' technology use. Research on this topic continues to expand, technology constantly advances, and devices steadily become a more ingrained part of daily life.
Technology recommendations that used to be specific and concrete are now more flexible and inclusive of individual and families' context, desires, and goals when it comes to digital parenting. Experts advise that maintaining communication with students about technology and monitoring their balance of devices is more important than focusing solely on total hours of screen time. Fortunately, a wealth of resources are available to help parents navigate the digital world along with their children.
No single resource or program can address all questions about technology. We understand and value that each student and family has different needs. Use these recommendations, tips, and resources as they fit your needs, concerns, and situations.
There are some things we consider to be best practices when it comes to students' technology use:
We don't tell students they shouldn't play games or use social media. There are certainly pitfalls with both, but there are many benefits as well. That said, there needs to be a balance between what experts call productive technology use (like actively researching information, collaboratively problem solving, or producing original content) and indulgent screen time (like playing games or watching videos).
Experts agree that students should use devices in a highly visible public spot at home like the kitchen, dining room, or family room where their screens are easily viewable by everyone.
Designate tech-free zones and times at home. Technology creates so many opportunities and benefits for students, but they should also unplug at times. We encourage students to participate in activities that don't involve their devices.
Develop a family technology usage plan, regularly talk about technology use with your sons, and model best practices. There are examples of how to structure these plans in the resources below.
Encourage students to turn off or mute notifications on all devices when doing school work.
Talk to your sons about what they are viewing online and what is appropriate. Ask them to see what they are looking at if you are concerned.
There are parental controls available for both iPhones and Android phones. Check with the phone's user manual or your wireless provider for more information and help setting this up.
Aside from a phone/iPad's parental control features, there is not a parental supervision app or service we recommend for managing students' technology/internet use. There are many options available with different functions. Some may not work with our school device management software though so please check with us before you pay for anything. You should be aware there are usually ways around each app or service.
Your home wifi router may have the ability to block sites and limit connectivity to specific devices. Check with your internet provider for help. You may consider OpenDNS as a way to filter websites at home. There is a basic free version and a service for $19.95/year that includes reporting and the ability to allow only specific websites. (Note: we do not recommend the "OpenDNS Umbrella Prosumer" package as it is not compatible with our network management system.)
To view internet browsing history on a MacBook, click on the History tab in either Chrome or Safari. Command + Y is the shortcut to open the full browsing history. Click here for a short guide on viewing browser history on an iPad or iPhone. Here is a short guide for viewing browser history on an Android device.
If you are concerned about something your son is doing with technology, even if you aren't sure what it is, trust your instincts. Please let your son's counselor/adviser or the Dean's office know if you have specific concerns the school should know about.
The resources below look at technology usage from a variety of perspectives. Click the links for more information. Organizations such as healthychildren.org and commonsense.org can provide even more ideas, tips, and recommendations.
The American Academy of Pediatrics revised their screen time recommendations in 2016 and called for families to make media use plans, to set reasonable limits, create tech-free zones, and to actively talk about technology use with children. The AAP includes 13 tips for parents and families.
"There really is no magic number that's 'just right.' What's more important is the quality of kids' media, how it fits into your family's lifestyle, and how you engage your kids with it."
This article is primarily written for educators but is also applicable to parents and students. "As educational technology continues to proliferate, and as today’s careers demand tech-savvy job candidates who already know how to use devices, the argument over the right amount of screen time is getting louder. To gain some consensus on the issue, EdSurge reached out to a handful of education and industry experts for their opinions."
A 2017 study from the Oxford Internet Institute suggests that "there is little or no support for the theory that digital screen time use, on its own, is bad for young children's psychological wellbeing." According to the lead author of the study, "If anything, our findings suggest the broader family context, how parents set rules about digital screen time, and if they’re actively engaged in exploring the digital world together, are more important than the raw screen time."
This recorded webinar looks at the connections between sleep, mental health, and device usages in teens (and adults). "Proper sleep is essential for cognitive function, memory consolidation, emotional regulation, and physical health. It also plays a significant role in supporting the immune system and overall mental health. Unfortunately, many teens face sleep challenges due to factors such as academic pressures, extracurricular activities, social engagements, screen time, and irregular sleep schedules." The presenters share data and suggested best practices.
It can be difficult to confront the reality of your online habits. A natural reaction is to try to swing in the other direction and go cold turkey with a digital detox. Experts say that's not a sustainable strategy.
"One of the best and most important approaches to take in handling media use among children is for families to sit down together and create a family media agreement. The virtue of this approach is that it enlists all stakeholders in a conversation and empowers and invites kids and parents to think about what they do with media, when they are on media, how they engage with media and how often they use media at home."
This PDF template is another example of a family media/technology agreement. It includes different age brackets for grades K-5, 6-8, and 9-12.
Teens (and even adults too) want to be able to handle multiple tasks at once and engage in tech distractions while doing schoolwork. "Contrary to popular belief, multitasking interferes with the quality of learning. These suggestions can help students recognize that scattered focus isn't their friend during homework time."
"We hear a lot these days that modern digital technology is rewiring the brains of our teenagers, making them anxious, worried and unable to focus. Don’t panic; things are really not this dire."
"The sky does not appear to be falling, according to the results from a new national survey of teenagers by the nonprofit Common Sense Media. Surprisingly, the group found, teens on the whole say using social media makes them feel less lonely, less depressed, and more confident. They also say they're aware of social media's potential to distract and manipulate them, even if they sometimes struggle to moderate their own use."
"Parents, all too often, just want to grab their teen’s phone and stuff it in a drawer. But is social media and the omnipresence of digital interactions really the cause of all this anxiety? The short answer is: It’s complicated."
The organization made up of former tech industry executives and insiders wants to change the direction of technology for the better. "In the future, we will look back at today as a turning point towards humane design: when we moved away from technology that extracts attention and erodes society, towards technology that protects our minds and replenishes society," the website states. The "Take Control" section features practical tips to "live more intentionally with your devices right now."
"With Screen Time, you can access real-time reports about how much time you spend on your iPhone and iPad, and set limits for what you want to manage." This page also includes information about how to use this feature with your family.
"Technology has changed us, and it will continue to shape our lives, our organizations, our communities, and our future. How can we steward technology’s advance to benefit humanity to the fullest — supporting human endeavor, contributing to human flourishing in all its dimensions? Santa Clara University, which brings the inclusive perspective of Jesuit education to Silicon Valley, is pursuing answers."
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