Smartphones: Parents walking a tightrope

Indore: With social media now being an integral part of lifestyle, parents are not hesitant to introduce it to their children.
However, parents are counselling their children to use the technology judiciously. Parents today understand that it is an impossible task to keep children's lives alienated from social media. But, to what extent should they be lenient in allowing their kids to use messaging apps and social media sites still remains a debatable topic.
Arjan Rathi, father of a 17-year-old said, "Smartphones rather than being a piece of utility have now become a status symbol among school kids.Ninety per cent of the time, my son is with a phone in his hand, chatting with somebody or updating his status."
"Every time I point that out to him, he comes up with a valid excuse that he is discussing about the class timings or something about school," Rathi added.
While limiting the use of smartphones is a debatable issue in all households, a few parents have found ways to solve this never-ending problem.