In an era dominated by technology, parents find themselves armed with a double-edged sword: the ability to track every aspect of their child’s life. From being able to see their location, grades and screen time, parents can keep a close eye on their children’s activities all from their phones. While this may give parents a sense of control and relieve their anxieties about their child’s safety, it raises concerns about the effects that this has on the well-being of parents and their children, as well as on their relationship. 

Nearly everyone has a phone that they have with them at all times. This is convenient for parents because it gives them a way to stay in contact with their children. Apps like Life360 let parents monitor their child in real-time, allowing them to see their location and driving speed, as well as notifying them in case of an emergency. This is undoubtedly useful for parents who want to assure that their child is being safe. 

 Another change from the past is parents are able to monitor their students’ grades with just the click of a button. In the past, parents could only assess their student’s academic performance a few times annually when report cards were physically mailed. Now, they have the ability to access grade updates online. While this is beneficial for parents to make sure their child is staying on top of their schoolwork, it can also cause friction between parents and their children because they do not want to be micromanaged. 

FHS World History and Government/Economics teacher Moris Clark says that this can be difficult as a teacher because parents are communicating with their students during class and push them to ask their teacher about their grade or attendance immediately after it is updated. He believes that the immediacy that technology brings has fueled parents’ and students’ anxiety. 

“I would say being under that watchful eye doesn’t allow young adults to become responsible because they’re still being parented by someone,” Clark said. “I’m having students ask me right away, ‘Hey, you marked me absent’ and their parents are texting them because they’re getting that notification” 

With the opportunities that modern technology brings, it can be difficult to balance being a student or parent and maintaining privacy and trust in that relationship. But with communication and clear expectations, parents and students can navigate these challenges with ease.