Cyber-mobility: The Growth of Pre-teen Independence Despite Parental Proximity

By:
Dr Melinda Barnard
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In American culture the procurement of an automobile license is the rite of passage into adolescent independence. The physical exploration of new territory, and the new relationships which occur play a major role in the transition from childhood to adulthood. 

The use of instant messaging, e-mail, and online 'chat' groups by pre-teen, 12 -15 years old, creates a new way for them to explore their 'individuation' and 'peer-relatedness' without waiting for the geographic mobility stimulated by a driver's license.

In addition this use of new technologies for communication challenges both the time frame for this social growth and allows the growth to occur despite the proximity of parents with their supervision and restrictions on the pre-teens geographic movements.


Keywords: Adolescent Development, Use of Technology for Socialising, Adolescence and Technology, Cyber-mobility vs Auto-mobility, Text Messaging, Individuation Peer-relatedness
Stream: Cyberspace, Technology
Presentation Type: 30 minute Paper Presentation in English
Paper: Cyber-Mobility

Dr Melinda Barnard

Associate Professor, Department of Communication, Sonoma State University
USA

Dr Barnard has taught and worked in the field of Communications for 20 years. She began her research career examining the relationship between reading and television viewing with emphasis on family differences. She now finds herself studying the influence of teenagers use of new technologies to communicate with each other. She is an Associate Professor of Communication at the California State Universities only 'liberal arts' campus in Sonoma, California. She studies the impact of new technologies on the family structure.

Ref: H05P0034