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NEW DELHI: It''s the New Age umblical cord. And for couples in hi-pressured jobs finding it difficult to stay connected to their children, the perfect E-Age solution. Increasingly, parents are buying their children cell phones to remain connected — literally and emotionally.
In a recent research on latchkey children in the US, employers reported that the quality of their employees'' work began to slip after 3 pm every day."They couldn''t get any good work out of them as they were so worried about where their kids were. But now technology has made it easier for working parents to stay in touch with their kids. That''s a win-win-win situation. Good for parents, good for kids and good for employers."
For Neeta, a top-ranking media professional, it has become the most important way to connect, and interact, with son Rehan. "I was getting just nano-seconds to spend with him. Now, the mobile has made him a part of my busy life... I''m connected to him even when in a meeting." Rachna bought her son a cellphone when he was in class X. "He wanted it because of peer pressure, I bought it to keep track of him." She says she''s talking much more to her son now, thanks to the cell.
Parents may be happier with the electronic ties than their children are: if it''s the ultimate nightmare of parents, not knowing what your teenagers are doing — and where, and when, and with whom, it may be equally nightmarish for teenagers — having overconcerned ''nosy'' parents breathing down their neck and keeping tabs constantly. And teenagers who thought it was the ultimate style-statement and symbol of liberation are now finding out that cellphones are just another means by which parents can keep tabs.
"Unfortunately, a lot of the concern comes out in questions like ''Where are you,'' ''Who are you with'' — which can be seen as intrusive," says Neeta.
Poornima, a class IX student, has owned a cellphone for a year. Originally, she said, she wanted it because it was THE lifestyle accessory. "Now it''s like I have a kind of a dog chain on. She always has some kind of access to me. Before I got my mobile, it felt almost as if I had a little more freedom. It''s like my personal space is being invaded." Kids are also coming up with ways to beat the system: turning off their cellphones or telling white lies about dead batteries.