Title: Protection or Punishment? Relating the Design Space of Current Parental Control Apps to Support Parenting for Children’s Online Safety and Autonomy
Abstract: Parental control apps, which are mobile apps that enable parents to monitor and restrict their children’s online activities, are being increasingly adopted by parents as a means to safeguard their children online. However, it is unclear whether these apps are consistently beneficial or effective in achieving their intended goals. For instance, the use of excessive restriction and surveillance has been found to undermine parent-child relationship and impede children’s sense of autonomy.
In this presentation, I will share the results of our recent research, which involves a systematic analysis of the key design features found in popular parental control apps. We explored how these design features may relate to the experiences of parents and children when using these apps. Specifically, we ask how children’s and parents' perceptions are influenced by the design of parental control features, and how these design features either support or hinder children's and parents' sense of autonomy. Our findings provide insights into the design landscape of current parental control apps, and shed light on how these apps are perceived by parents and children. This research highlights future design considerations for enhancing children and parent’s autonomy within the context of existing digital parenting theories.
27 сен 2024
