Tashi Dorji1* and Sonam Jamtsho2
1 Principal, Tongmijangsa Primary School, Bhutan
2 Principal, Ramjar Middle Secondary School, Bhutan
*Corresponding Author: Tashi Dorji, Principal, Tongmijangsa Primary School, Bhutan.
Received: September 02, 2022; Published: September 30, 2022
Citation: Tashi Dorji and Sonam Jamtsho. “Impact of Mobile Phones on Teenagers in Trashi Yangtse: Parents’ Perspectives”. Acta Scientific Paediatrics 5.10 (2022): 32-56.
Background: In Bhutan, young people have dramatically increased their use of mobile phones.
It has been discovered to have favorable impacts on young entrepreneurs in Phuentsholing and cheese and butter traders in distant Sakteng. However, not all youths in the kingdom are affected in the same way by cell phones. Mobile phones have made life easy and inexpensive for teenagers to contact friends and access information [31]. However, the strong social setting in Bhutanese family lives has been destroyed by the widespread availability of information and the introduction of mobile phones. This study examines how mobile phones affect teens in Trashi Yangtse from the views of parents who have frequent interactions with children.
Objectives: This study was conducted to actually find out the impacts on of mobile phones on teenagers of Trashi Yangtse from the perspectives of parents. It was carried out to
Methods: Quantitative method was employed to explore the research problem. The data was collected through questionnaires (13 closed questions). The questionnaires were handed out to teenager’s parents in Trashi Yangtse in five different locations. The respondents had teenager’s from13 to 19 years old and they were broadly divided into seven ethnic groups. 44 parents had filled in the questionnaires and handed over to researcher personally while 36 parents emailed the filled in questionnaires.
Results: This study focused on the understanding the impact of mobile phones from parents’ perspective. The findings from this study revealed that the parents’ perception about the use of mobile phones by teenagers in Trashi Yangtse are significantly geared towards having immense negative impacts. The findings are briefly mentioned below:
Keywords: Social Media; Teenagers; Mobile Phones.
This paper tries to comprehend the impact of mobile phones on teenagers, from parents’ perspective. The impact includes concerns and consequences that arise from the literature. This chapter also focuses on the research title, the main research question and the sub-questions. Towards the end, the significance of the study is mentioned.
The world that we live today is very much cyber community connected by a network of wireless devices. It is indeed a flat world. Most of us today have obtained a room in cyber space through e-mail accounts, doing online transactions and through e-learning. All these online activities can be performed through technology.
With the growing number of gadgets, mobile phones have become all-pervading. The mobile phone is an anytime and anywhere tool, boosting the tendency to do things subtly as well as openly. The internet has flattened the world removing geographical boundaries and so have mobile phones that have blurred the borders between public and private lives [8]. It is a very common sight everywhere to see people talking over mobile phones and also using the same inaudibly such as text messaging in the presence of their families and friends. The fact is, with the use of cell phones, people sometimes lose the capacity to manage the boundaries between appropriate and inappropriate usage [1]. This indicates that the cell phones have not only distorted the boundaries of lives but have also shifted the borders of usage.
Moreover, in a family setting especially in Bhutan, there is a combination of different generations of people living. One of the factors that determine the perceptions of parents on their teenagers’ mobile phone handling is the level of acceptance of technology by parents [28]. Augments that the ‘teenagers of today’s generation are digital natives and parents that belong to previous generations are referred to as digital immigrants’. Thus, based on the information, literatures provided a strong foundation to understand the multi-dimension usage of mobile phones and perceptions of parents in TrashiYangtse. The existing literature was reviewed to understand the ways in which mobile phone is being used and the impact it has had on account of teenagers’ usage.
Parents are the direct relation to their children and they experience the first-hand impact of their teenagers’ mobile phone usage. Thus, the study is to find out whether they are happy or unhappy or have a mixed opinion on the usage of mobile phones by their teenagers. Through this research, the researcher firstly will try to understand the uses and impact of teenagers’ mobile phone usage and, secondly, to know the impact of mobile texting messages on the communication and proper language skills. Finally, the researcher will evaluate psychological effects and physical safety aspects of teenagers for their excessive mobile phone usage. The research problem therefore has multi-dimensional views that subsume the perceptions of parents on the overall usage of mobile phones by their teenage children. The problem, thus, is broken down into three research objectives.
The main emphasis of this research is to find out the perceptions of parents on their teenagers’ mobile phone usage through
Impact of mobile phones on teenagers of Trashi Yangtse: Parents’ perspectives.
What is the overall perception of parents in Trashi Yangtse on their teenagers’ mobile phone usage?
This study is about teenagers’ mobile phone usage in Trashi Yangtse from a parent’s perspective. Mobile technology is revolutionizing a new model for communication and the society is experiencing a new pattern. Due to the technological revolution, family has become a miniature now. This study therefore looks into the social aspect of technology usage to:
In this chapter, the discussions circle around the ways mobile phones are being used by teenagers and the overall impact their usage has had on teenagers and families as well. This literature review acts as the basis for the current study to understand the parents’ perception about the mobile phone usage by their teenagers.
While the origins of mobile phone dates back to the 1950s, the technology had come of age in the1990s with development of the GSM network in Europe, the appearance of several transmission systems in 3 the US, launching of NTT DoCoMo in Japan, and concurrent growth in the Middle East, the rest of Asia, and Africa [21]. Today’s mobile phones range widely in price and functionality. Mobile telephony has invaded across cultural groups, economic strata, and age cohorts. However, since their inception, mobiles have enjoyed an especially high uptake among teenagers and young adults [21].
The invention of the fixed telephone in the late 19th century had changed the way people interacted and communicated. This has been paralleled in the early 21st century by the arrival of the mobile phone. The mobile phone was originally created for adults for business use [2]. This is extremely similar to the fixed telephone in the early 20th century, where telephone engineers explained that the telephone was made for the business world and not for social conversation [13]. The growth of mobile phone technology is demonstrated by the fact that in 2002 the number of mobile phone users worldwide, surpassed those of fixed-phone users [33]. It has been predicted that by the end of 2005, the number of mobile phone subscribers worldwide will reach 2 billion [11].
Bhutan too was a part of the bandwagon. Bhutan launched mobile services on 23rd November 2003 [5]. Since then, Bhutan had no time to reflect. In the past nineteen years, Bhutan’s network coverage has drastically increased. The newest was the rollout of 5G network services, which many nations still do not have. Today, there are many people who have mobile phone in Trashi Yangtse. But usage differs from person to person. Bhutan today has close to 100 percent of people to mobile access, which is a very huge coverage [24].
The mobile phone is a status symbol for teenagers. It is seen as a fashion accessory that satisfies the need for individualization by having choices in mobile wallpaper, ring tones, phone covers, carry bags and other accessories [34] and yet also signifies being part of the peer group [40]. Indeed, even the ownership of a mobile phone indicates that one is socially connected, accessible and in demand. It can also be seen as a symbol of independence from one’s family [7].
According to [7], ‘the adoption of the mobile phone by young people has been a global phenomenon in recent years. It is now an integral part of adolescents’ daily lives and is for the majority, the most popular form of electronic communication. In fact, the mobile phone has turned from a technological tool to a social tool’.
The present world presents an exceptional array of opportunities for communication and interaction, information retrieval and data at the fingertips that was never available a couple of years ago. [29] says that it is a general understanding that mobile phones have fastened the society in various aspects through its variety of functionalities. Mobiles have also facilitated the social freedom of young people from parental authority.
The introduction of mobile phones has also made people around the world depend on it in organizing things, right from waking one up as an alarm clock to wrapping up the day with reminders about things to do networking with friends and staying in touch with family [29]. For teens especially, this technical invention has become a social fad. If teenagers have mobile phones, their parents often feel more security when their progeny travel independently outside the home.
However, studies have shown that with mobile ownership comes increase in calling and sending of messages and time spent online before sleep leading to depression [17].
Further, excessive use of mobile phones has been associated with sleep disturbances, anxiety and mental health symptoms [36]. Inattention is also one of the major problems associated with excessive mobile use in adolescents [41].
The main areas of uses and impacts focusing on teenagers are mentioned below.
[33] writes that the collective identity of a family or people living at the same place has been diluted through the use of member’s individual mobile phones. In other words, unity has given way to a multiplicity of channels. Further, due to its addiction young people tend to neglect important activities, drift away from friends and close family, and drive attention towards mobile phone constantly when they don’t have it with them [4].
Society comprises of rituals, experiences, emotions, power and relationships. All these aspects, contribute to the bonding of a society. The relationship between parent and teenager is never static. Traditions in society, the legal relational power system, familial structure and hierarchical dimensions all have an influence in a relationship between parents and teenagers. Hence, parentteenager relationship tends to be more dynamic and matures with the age of the teenager.
Expanding on the private and public spaces, the authors say that the mobile phone is depicted as a private meeting place located inside the family because the conversation takes place exclusively between the owner of the phone and the person on the other side of the conversation [8]. In this situation, although the conversation takes place inside a home, family members are considered as unaddressed or unofficial participants [8]. Further, the use of mobile phones inside a home not only defines the status of family members but also public and private spaces. Home becomes a public space wherein the teenager makes his own private space through the mobile phone, within that public space [9].
However, a decade later, mobile phones have helped the family members to keep in touch with their extended family who have been living in different locations and different countries. Nevertheless, due to the unrestricted nature of mobile phone access, mobile phones have occupied the very intimate and private space of a person [34]. Thus, the family feels the impact. In Bhutan, the attachment to this device, both physically and emotionally, is on a gradually increasing scale that is resulting in a dilution in the family relationships.
As the teens begin to grow, they tend to increase the use of social networks and interactions. The presence of mobile phone has indeed facilitated the access to teens. [33] adds that mobile phones, especially through text messages, have provided a platform for a virtual network of peers, even late at night. Mobile phones in this regard act as a gateway for teens to release their freedom [34]. Therefore, mobile phones have become the source of identity construction device by making or receiving calls in front of peers. The main activity that takes place between friends via mobile phones is making arrangements to meet. The traditional meaning of making an appointment and meeting at a particular place has almost disappeared with the use of mobile phones.
Teens are keen communicators. They communicate frequently with a variety of important people in their lives: friends and peers, parents and teachers, and a myriad of other adults and institutions. However, with the advancement of mobile phones in their lives, the keenness to communicate with personal touch has lost its way to text messaging.
[32] laments that the mobile call or SMS helps to keep people in contact and maintain relationships, it has led to the problem of shrinking the relationship. But [1] say that the mobile phone text messaging has rapidly become a socially popular form of communication. It is personal and widely used. Teenagers send or receive SMS irrespective of place and time. It is known that text language is used for text messaging, where language is simplified to bring out the best meaning possible with minimum letters. It is a known fact that most teenagers are fascinated about using text language [29].
Yet [39] revealed the findings of their study that teenagers are losing the skills of communication such as eye-to-eye contact and good posture while speaking. The findings also revealed that teenagers are more affluent in answering back through text messages rather than speaking back.
Mobile phones offer possibilities of communicating while on the move, but at the cost of dangerous distractions. According to [12], ‘The mobile phone distracts drivers in two ways: it causes physical distraction and cognitive distraction. Physical distraction occurs when drivers have to simultaneously operate their mobile phone and operate their vehicle. Cognitive distraction occurs when a driver has to divert part of his/her attention from driving to the telephone conversation’. Mobile phone use while driving could therefore negatively affect driving performance. The results of epidemiological studies strongly suggest that using a mobile phone while driving can increase the risk of being involved in a road crash up to four times [12].
This chapter offers a basis for the methodology, research design and selection of method used in the research. The chapter also explains the entire research design including sampling, data collection and data analysis. Further to this, ethical concerns considered in the entire research process are mentioned.
[16] defines ‘Research methodology as a way to systematically solve the research problem’. Research methodology has several dimensions that include designing the research process with suitable research methods. The researcher formulates a methodology for any study mainly to bring in some logical reasons in the context of research such as what research methods to use in the study and why, what type of data is to be collected and from whom, and how the data to be collected is analyzed. The researcher also supports the applicability, reliability and validity of the research process wherever needed [16].
[10] defines research design as ‘the plan and the procedure for research that spans the decisions from broad assumptions to detailed methods of data collection and analysis. It involves the intersection of philosophic assumptions, strategies of inquiry and specific methods’. But [6] define a research design as ‘a blueprint for conducting a study with maximum control over factors that may interfere with the validity of the findings’. However, [27] describes a research design as “a plan that describes how, when and where data are to be collected and analyzed”.
The study was done using quantitative research methods. Quantitative research, also known as traditional positivist approach, or the experimental or empiricist tradition attempts to quantify things and generalize results from a sample of the population of interest [22]. Rooted in hard sciences, researchers who work from this paradigm therefore explain in quantitative terms how variables interact, shape events and cause outcomes [38]. As a result, this approach enables researchers to summarize information in a quicker way and more straight forward way as they are able to control variables.
The main data collection instrument - self-administered questionnaire was employed in this study. Using the selfadministered questionnaire enabled the researcher to gather rich data resulting in a much greater understanding.
Survey is the search conducted among the selected respondents. So, survey sampling is the process of collecting sample opinion of a whole group or representative sample of the population over a phenomenon [26].
A survey questionnaire was designed with 13 closed questions. Every question contained an option for the participant to answer. The questionnaire began with multiple choices that contained a verbal frequency scale and followed by demographic data viz. ethnicity, gender.
[26] mentions that the questionnaires are found to be effective for determining public opinion. Also, anonymous nature of questionnaire will lead to more candid responses from respondents. Importantly, it has been observed that independence and equality of opinion of each respondent guaranteed by questionnaire help a lot to enhance competence and reliability of data. Above all, the fact that questionnaire can be filled and completed at the respondent’s convenient time makes it popular and generally acceptable for data gathering [26].
In this study, the demographic data are considered as independent variables whereas frequency scale responses are considered as dependent variables. The questions in the questionnaire for this study contained both the types of variables. [10] says that a survey design provides a quantitative or numeric description of trends, attitudes, or opinions of a population by studying a sample of that population. From the sample results, the researcher generalizes or makes claims about the population.
Hence, a statistical survey through questionnaire was employed as an instrument of data collection in the quantitative phase.
The researchers attempted to get the statistical figures of parents of teenagers in Trashi Yangtse from Bumdeling, Bayling and Trashi Yangtse, Tsenkarla, Ramjar, Kheni, Kunzangling and Tongmijangsa. Hence, a sample size of 80 participants, who were the parents of teenagers were employed using culturally appropriate data collection processes. They were provided with survey questionnaire to ensure reliability and validity of data.
A probability technique was used for the quantitative data collection. The procedures used for collecting data were random sampling technique.
The forms were distributed to parents in person and through emails. The completed forms were returned by parents themselves. Out of 80 parents, 36 parents sent the filled in forms through emails.
A Quantitative method was used to explore the research problem. Quantitative data was collected through 13 closed questionnaires. They were broadly divided into seven ethnic groups from eight different locations. 80 parents completed the questionnaires.
The quantitative data was organized using the software package, ‘Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS)’ for Windows.
This relates to moral standards that the researchers should consider in all research methods in all stages of the research design. The study was conducted with the parents of teenagers who were residing in Trashi Yangtse from Bumdeling, Bayling and Trashi Yangtse, Tsenkarla, Ramjar, Kheni, Kunzangling and Tongmijangsa. In each location, 20 parents were targeted. Prior to consenting to fill in the survey questionnaire, the participants were informed about the purpose and aims of study. At the same time, participants were also informed about their rights to withdraw from the study if they wish. However, none of the participants volunteered to withdraw at any stage of the study.
The participant’s right to privacy was given due respect during the entire research project. Participants were assured that the information provided by them would be solely used for the purpose of study and their personal identity would not be reflected anywhere throughout the study.
The access to the information was restricted only to the researcher. Although the completed questionnaires contained information about their ethnicity, age group and also contact details a high degree of confidentiality was maintained.
All the completed questionnaires are stored safely. The researcher only has an access to it. A due respect of integrity and autonomy of the research was maintained throughout phase.
This chapter presents the analyses and results of the questionnaires. This chapter also contains the information on how the data were collected and entered. Demographic data were explored along with the dependent variables. Inferential analysis was done by cross-tabulating.
The total number of 80 participants completed the survey questionnaire, consisting of 13 closed questions. Information was collected from parents of teenagers under 13 - 19 years. For the easy computation, the teenagers were grouped into three distinct age groups: 13 - 14, 15 - 16 and 17 - 19 years. Every parent was requested to use one form for each teenager he or she has. For example, if the parents had two teenagers, then, he or she completed two forms. This was mainly done to obtain tailor-made answers that were suitable to each teenager’s individual mobile phone usage.
The following demographic information was considered as independent variables and was obtained from the first seven questions of the questionnaires. Options were provided in the Questionnaire:
The following nine dependent variables reflect parents’ perceptions on their teenagers’ mobile phone usage.
Each dependent variable traced data to meet a particular research objective. Dependent variables and corresponding research objectives.
Table 1: Showing the dependent variables in line with research objectives.
Parents from various ethnic groups such as Ngalops, Sharchops, Lhotsampas, Kutoeps, Bumthaps, Mangdueps and others had taken part in the survey. Parents hailing from other than the ethnic groups mentioned were grouped as ‘Others’. The number of participants from all ethnic groups is reflected in the table below.
Table 2: Showing the Ethnic Participation.
The questionnaire was distributed to 80 parents of teenagers of which 28 parents represented boys and 52 parents were for girls. A further breakdown analysis between boys and girls, as per their age groups, revealed that there were maximum parents for 13 - 14-year-old significantly with 35%. The second was followed by age group that fall under the category of 17 - 19years old.
Figure 1: Showing the age group and gender of the teenagers.
Figure 2: Showing mobile possessions by teenagers.
The teenagers who possess mobile phones outnumbered the teenagers who do not possess a mobile phone. Teenagers possessing mobile phone were 66 out of 80 respondents and remaining 14 teenagers do not possess the mobile phone. In terms of age group breakdown indicated that all the teenagers in the group 15 - 16 had mobile phones.
In aspect of recharge payment for teenagers, significantly, 96.2% of parents take the responsibility for paying the mobile phone recharge for their teenage children. Only 3.8% is by others. A further breakdown of recharge payment revealed that throughout the time, parents take the responsibility of paying for recharge of teenagers. The data indicates that children fully depend on parents to pay for their recharges.
Of the 80 parents who filled in the questionnaire form, 66 (82.5%) were mothers and 8 (10%) were fathers of teenagers. The rest of the respondents fall under others category.
Table 3: Showing the age group of parents/respondents.
Of the 80 parents who filled in the questionnaire form, 38 of them fall under the age group of 31 - 40 years old and 36 of them fall under the age group of 41 - 50. Further breakdown reveals that 31 - 40 years old followed by 28 of them under 41 - 50 years old.
In the technologically advanced world, the responses exposed that 58.8% parents were ‘Unhappy’ to find their teenagers using mobile phones. It was followed by 16.3% parents opting for ‘Neutral’, which was an indication that they do not have any idea.
Figure 3: Showing the happiness rate of parents.
The gender of the teenagers has established a significant relationship with the perception of parents on the happiness rate of parents about the use of mobile phone by teenagers. The cross-tabulation between the independent variable ‘gender’ and the dependent variable ‘happiness rate’ of parents revealed that significantly 58.8% of parents were unhappy, of which 30% were the parents of female teenagers. Only 17% of parents were of male teenagers.
Based on the results, it is concluded that teenagers’ usage of mobile phones was not very constructive and meaningful for parents as they incurred huge bills for recharges (expressed in headings 4.3.4). Further, the results also revealed that teenagers were often bullied via mobile phones and there was also a loss of social bonding within the family circle. Thus, happiness rate of the parents was affected that showed 58.8% of parents as unhappy.
Table 4: Showing the Happiness rate of parents.
The statistics revealed that 51.2% of parents felt unsafe of mobile usage by their teenagers. This explained that the parents felt that their teenagers are ‘Unsafe’ while using mobile phones. Further, 22.5% of parents felt that the use of mobile phone by their teenagers is ‘Very unsafe’. Only 16.3% of parents felt safe to use mobile phone by their teenagers.
The cross-tabulation among gender of the teenagers, age group of teenagers and parents’ perception on the safety of mobile phone usage by teenagers established a very substantial relationship. The results revealed that cumulatively 73.8% of teenagers’ parents felt ‘Unsafe’ and ‘Very unsafe’ to use mobile phones by their teenagers. Of all, 87.6% of teenagers’ parents felt ‘Unsafe’ and ‘Very unsafe’ with teenagers falling under the age category of 15 - 16 years old. Above all, parents felt unsafe and very unsafe with the female teenagers falling under the age category of 17 - 19 years old. It is the stage for young people to make decisions of life ahead. [14] states that more than 750,000 young girls between aged 17 - 19 years become pregnant each year in America.
Figure 4: Showing the feeling of safety of teenagers’ mobile usage.
Table 5: Showing the feeling of safety of teenagers’ mobile usage.
The concerns revealed by the cross tabulation significantly established the truth of feeling unsafe and very unsafe for female teenagers falling under the age category of 17 - 19 in Bhutan.
The responses revealed that children do get bullied via mobile phones. It revealed that 36.3% of parents did hear their teenagers share the stories of getting bullied through mobile phones ‘Sometimes’. But 25% of parents said that they don’t know. Only 20% of parents said ‘No’.
Further, the results revealed that more female teenagers share to their parents than male teenagers.
Figure 5: Showing the gender wise sharing of being bullied.
Table 6: Showing the cross tabulation of gender and age on being bullied.
The cross-tabulation among gender of the teenagers, age group of teenagers and parents’ perception on the sharing of being bullied via mobile phones established a very significant relationship. The results revealed that only 18.8% of teenagers shared ‘Always’ to their parents about being bullied via mobile phones. Female teenagers under the age category of 15 - 16 years old sometimes shared to their parents about being bullied via their mobile phones. The cross tabulation results revealed that teenagers in Bhutan do not share to their parents.
Cyberbullying is common in among teenagers yet children refrain from sharing to parents. A report by [15] state that the cyberbullying is a growing problem because of the increasing number of teenagers using or embracing online interactivity. Further, they also say that cyberbullying can occur across a variety of avenues and mediums in cyberspace. Why do teenagers refrain from sharing about being cyberbullied to parents? In Bhutanese family context, parents are very poor listeners. Many of the Bhutanese parents fail to listen to their children. Parents in general in Bhutan often treat teenagers as minors who cannot make decisions and whose concerns have no weight. Many a times, parents in Bhutan use forces to the children’s inquisitive nature. Thus, many children remain silent. And above all, parents in Bhutan do not think of questioning their children whether or not they are being bullied. [30] share that the child refrains from sharing about being bullied because of the fear of parents or caregivers’ reaction. They also mention that some parents blame the child being too weak and take on the attitude that the child deserves to be bullied.
Teenagers do not share to parents with a fear that parents will overreact and make situation worse [30]. The case applies to Bhutan as well. The results revealed that not many teenagers in Bhutan come forward to share with parents about the issue of being cyberbullied.
Figure 6: Showing the loss of proper language skills.
The responses showed that 41 parents (51.3%) said ‘Very much’ meaning that they believed that their teenagers were losing proper language skills due to mobile text language. This was followed by 16 parents (20%), who responded ‘Much’ and 17 parents (21.3%) said ‘Some extent’.
The cross-tabulation among gender of the teenagers, age group of teenagers and parents’ perception on the loss of proper language skills due to text language proved a very significant relationship. The results revealed that the loss of proper language skills was most common in female teenagers. 43.8% of female teenagers’ parents revealed that their teenagers have lost proper language skills very much due to text language. And of all, these female teenagers were under the age category of 17 - 19 years old. Children at this stage tend to use and fiddle mobiles phones more than any other things. Toys and other playful things do not appeal to them.
Table 7: Showing the loss of proper language skills.
Researchers have found out that mostly the SMS language affects two aspects of learners’ language proficiency i.e. skills to express oneself eloquently through writing and skills and ability to use words appropriately in context [3]. Teenagers are unable to differentiate the context and situation for the use of SMS language as they tend to write the spelling of some words as they are spoken and omit punctuation and overuse it in their tests, assignments and reports which sometimes hamper comprehension of the sense they want to convey [3]. However, at the same time, by some researchers, texting has been considered as a sign of creativity and proficiency. [37] call young people’s use of their mobile phones as a novel and creative way of improving close relationships and existing social circles and claims that ‘popular discourses about the linguistic uniqueness and incomprehensibility of this particular technologically mediated discourse appear greatly exaggerated’.
However, the results of the cross tabulations proved to be otherwise of the ideas shared by researchers such as Thurlow and Poff. The results revealed that majority of Bhutanese teenagers are losing standard and academic language skills due the frequent use of texting language or SMS.
The figures revealed that 20 parents said ‘Yes’ of which 12 were female and only 8 were male. Further, the statistics also showed that 8 parents were of the opinion that text message impinged communications skills ‘much’. And 36 parents believed that text message impinged communication skills in teenagers to ‘Some extent’, of which 30 were female teenagers.
Table 8: Showing the gender wise loss of communication skills.
The findings revealed that the 40% parents of the teenagers said ‘Very true’ and 47.5% parents said ‘True’. Cumulatively 87.5% parents believed that their personal time with their teenagers was interrupted because of the social bonding enabled by mobile phones.
Table 9: Showing the levels of interruption of personal time by mobile phones.
Table 10: Showing ethnicity wise interruption of personal time by mobile phones.
The cross-tabulation between ethnicity and parents’ perception on the interruption of personal time due to the social bonding by mobile usage is very substantial. The results established that 40% of teenagers’ parents mentioned ‘Very true’ for the invasion by mobile phones in their personal time with their children. And further, 47.5% of parents agreed that their personal time with the children had been hampered by social bonding established through the use of mobile phone by teenagers. Cumulatively, it is 87.5% of teenagers’ parents who believed that their personal time with their children was interrupted by the mobile phone usage.
With a categorical breakdown into ethnicity, 27.5% of Sharchops believed that their personal time was interrupted by the usage of mobile phone of their teenagers. It is then followed by Lhotsampas with 20.1% who fully endorsed that their time was interrupted by the social bonding enabled by mobile phones of teenagers.
The responses revealed that 42.5% (34 parents) mentioned ‘Unsecured’ and 17.5% (14 parents) mentioned ‘Very unsecured’, which indicated that their teenagers are not secure while using mobile phones during the non-monitored periods such as after school and before parents’ arrival to home. Cumulatively, the findings also revealed that only 40% of parents were feeling either ‘Secured’ or ‘Neutral’.
Table 11: Showing the feeling of insecurity.
The cross-tabulation between age group of teenagers and parents’ perception on the non-monitored usage of mobile phones by teachers proved very significant. The results established that 48 teenagers’ parents out of 80 mentioned that they felt ‘Unsecured’ and ‘Very unsecured’. Cumulatively, 60% of teenagers’ parents felt unsecured and much unsecured of the non-monitored mobile usage by teenagers. Further, categorically, parents whose teenagers were under the age of 17 - 19 years old faced greater insecurity than those of two other two categories.
Though mobile phone has become indispensable tools, numerous effects had surfaced due to the excessive use of mobile phones. Use of mobile phone has affected adolescents’ quality and quantity of sleep, their attention span and their academic performance. It had further caused attention deficit, difficulties in focusing and a negative impact on adolescent academic achievements (Maurya., et al. 2014).
Figure 7: Showing the use of mobile phones during non-monitored time.
Figure 8: Showing the risk of mobile phones during while driving.
The responses revealed that 90% parents responded ‘Very risky’ followed by 10% parents voted for ‘Risky’. Cumulatively, 100% parents believed that is it risky to use mobile phone while driving. This indicated that mobile phones poised danger to teenagers while driving.
The cross-tabulation between Ethnicity and parents’ perception on the use of mobile phone while driving established very significant relationship. The cross tabulation data exposed high risk of accidents due the use of mobile phones. Cumulatively, 100% of teenagers’ parents mentioned ‘Very risky’ and ‘Risky’ to the questions asked. Researchers had found out that mobile phones potentially distract drivers in four different ways such as physically, visually, auditory and cognitively [12]. The use of Mobile phones during the driving can significantly impact the performance of the drivers. The use of phones distracts the drivers. Further, driver distraction plays a role in 20 - 30% of all road collisions [35].
Considering the findings, it is worthy to note that parents’ 100% mention of ‘Very risky’ and ‘Risky’ are substantial. Of the seven ethnicity, 33.8% of sharchop ethnicity said the use of mobile phone while driving is risky, followed by 20% of parents from Ngalop and Lhotsampa ethnicities.
Table 12: Showing the use of mobile phones while driving through ethnicity.
Table 13: Showing the result of the ban of mobile phone while driving.
Cumulatively, the responses showed that 92.5% parents mentioned ‘Very much’ and ‘Much’ to the question asked. With the breakdown to numbers, there were 70 parents who said ‘Very much’ and 4 parents who mentioned ‘Much’. Only 6 parents mentioned ‘Probably’.
Table 14: Showing the age limit for teenagers.
The responses showed that 37.5% parents said ‘Disagree’ and 38.8% parents mentioned ‘Fully disagree’. Cumulatively, 77.2% (61 parents) said that teenagers should not be allowed to carry mobile phones to their schools. Only 17.7% of parents cumulatively reflected that teenagers be allowed to carry mobile phones to their schools. Beside 4 parents who opted for ‘Neutral’ category, there was one respondent who did not respond to the question.
Figure 9: Showing the use of mobile phones in the schools.
The responses displayed that 30% parents who endorsed ‘Fully agree’ to the question asked and 47.5% parents mentioned ‘Agree’ to have age limit. Cumulatively, 77.5% of parents wanted an age limit to be set for teenagers to use their mobile phones.
The cross-tabulation between Ethnicity and parents’ perception on the issue of allowing mobile phones in the schools established substantial relationship. The results revealed that 77.2% of teenagers parents from all seven ethnicities were not in favour of allowing mobile phones to be used in schools by teenagers. Ethnocentrically, 22.8% of parents of teenagers under sharchop ethnicity said that mobile phones should not be allowed in the school, followed by 19% of parents of teenagers from Lhotsamp ethnicity.
Though mobile phones help bridge the digital divide by providing internet access to less privileged teens, most schools treat the phones as a disruptive force that must be excluded from the school and classroom [18].
The responses revealed that 67.5% (54 parents) said ‘Social Media’ and only 15% (12 parents) mentioned ‘academic purpose’.
Table 15: Showing the use of mobile phones in the schools.
Further, only 12.5 (10 parents) said that children use mobile phones for ‘Call/voice message’ and 5% (4 parents) said for ‘text message’.
Table 16: Showing the purpose of mobile phones.
The cross-tabulation among gender of the teenagers, age group of teenagers and parents’ perception on the purposes of mobile phone usage by teenagers proved substantial relationship. The results revealed that teenagers only use mobile phones for social media rather than academic purpose. Of the three categories of age, 28.6% of male teenagers under the age groups of 13 - 14 and 17 - 19 years old used mobile phones for social media. Only 14.3% of male teenagers under the age group of 15 - 16 years old used mobile phones for social media. In the female teenagers’ category, 34.6% of teenagers under the age group of 17 - 19 years old used mobile phones for social media, followed by 15.4% for the age groups of 13 - 4 and 15 - 16 years old. Cumulatively, 71.4% of male teenagers used mobile phones for social media and 65.5% of female teenagers used mobile phones for social media.
Social media dominates the usage of mobile phones among the teenagers of TrashiYangtse.
The final chapter summarizes the overall perceptions of parents on the teenagers’ mobile phone usage. It particularly focuses on the impacts of mobile usage. Further, alongside, the concluding remarks of the researcher are also reflected.
Table 17: Showing the purposes of mobile phones for teenagers.
Recommendations for promoting better use of mobile phones to overshadow the negative impacts, are provided. In addition, some avenues for further research are identified. Strengths and limitations of the study are given, which will help the readers and evaluator to understand the value and weight of the study.
This study focused on the understanding the impact of mobile phones from parents’ perspective. The quantitative method of research was employed to explore the research question. The data was collected through questionnaires from 80 parents. The participants were parents of teenagers aged 13 to 19 years old. The findings from this study revealed that the parents’ perception about the use of mobile phones by teenagers in TrashiYangtse are significantly geared towards having immense negative impacts. The findings are briefly mentioned below:
This study reveals that the use of mobile phones by teenagers in Trashiyangtse is not very healthy. Further, the study also reveals that the impacts of mobile phones on teenagers are more of negative impacts than positive purposes. There aren’t any silver bullet solutions to refute the negative impacts created by mobile phones to teenagers. And it is beyond the scope of this study to recommend to manufacturing companies but at best some recommendations for parents and teenagers, and other stakeholders of TrashiYangtse are that: The media houses must take a leading role in creating awareness of negative consequences of mobile phone usage to general public and provide tips to tackle such consequences. The parents must set a minimum age limit to use mobile phones by teenagers in their homes and make teens understand the negative impacts and provide the best ways to deal with them. The children should not be allowed to use mobile phones while driving either through education or through legislation. The parents and teachers must provide educational seminars (talks on academic usage of mobile phones) to teenagers at home and in the schools to sensitize students to use mobile phones for academic purposes andThe parents must share quality time with teenagers either by organizing family picnic or going out together for outings to establish close social bonding within the family.
This study reconnoitered the impact, consequences and concerns of teenagers’ mobile phone usage from the perspectives of parents in TrashiYangtse. In doing so, there were many limitations the researcher faced. One of the chief limitations was the absence of statistical information of the parents of teenagers although attempts were made, which in turn made the researcher set a sample size without a basis. Secondly, the findings are entirely based upon the research conducted in four locations in TrashiYangtse and hence may not be applicable directly to other places in other districts.
There was higher participation from certain ethnic groups (Sharchops and lhotsampas) and minimal numbers from certain ethnic groups (others) which was purely a coincidence.
The findings of this research suggest that parents of teenagers perceive that negative impacts outweigh positive purposes from teenagers’ mobile phone usage. Further, many parents perceive that there is a huge risk of leaving teenagers with mobile phones. This gives a new focus for the study. Some areas for the future research could be on the:
The study has found out that the parents expressed both positive and negative impact towards teenagers’ mobile phone usage. However, the negative impacts outweighed the positive purposes.
Positively, the parents of the teenagers perceived that mobile phones are very useful devices for communication and coordination of activities. However, on the negative side, parents revealed that the teenagers are addicted and obsessed with social media, which ultimately made their children lose the strength of social bonding within family. Further, the parents also felt that the usage of mobile phones distracted their teenagers from the study time and other important activities.
The overall findings from this study revealed that parents’ perceptions of teenagers’ mobile phone usage are very much worrisome that need immediate attention of parents, teachers and law makers. A very high number of respondents expressed the view that negative impacts outweighing positive purposes with teenagers’ mobile phone usage.
Copyright: © 2022 Tashi Dorji and Sonam Jamtsho. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Open Access by
Acta Scientific is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Based on a work at https://actascientific.com
ff
ff
© 2024 Acta Scientific, All rights reserved.