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November 20th, 2018

Most Parents Use Technology to Help Keep an Eye on Their Children

Three quarters of parents use technology to actively keep an eye on their children, according to new research by Asurion, the global leader in technology solutions services

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A study of 2,000 parents whose kids are between the ages of three and 18 examined how they use different tech devices to help them parent.

The research showed that 76 percent of parents use smart tech devices like security cameras and video doorbells as an aid to help parent their children and keep them safe and well-behaved1.

Asurion’s study, conducted by OnePoll, explored the different technology devices that parents use to monitor their children and found that 59 percent have a Wi-Fi enabled camera installed in their home.

In fact, parents use technology nine times a week to help keep an eye out on their children.

Monitoring and limiting their children’s online habits plays a big role in keeping their kids safe and out of trouble. Eighty-three percent of parents agree that they should be allowed to monitor their children, especially their digital lives. In fact, more than half (51 percent) revealed that they use parental controls to limit or monitor their kids’ internet browsing and social media, and 53 percent say they use parental control settings on the TV to limit what their children can watch. And three in five parents admitted to checking browsing history on their kids’ phones, laptops, or desk computers.

Parents are turning to technology to monitor their children’s offline activities as well. Three quarters of parents said they use tech to ensure that their children are safe when they aren’t around. And 48 percent of parents use video calls with their children to monitor their children’s whereabouts and ensure they are behaving.

In fact, 38 percent of parents revealed that they’ve caught their children breaking the rules by watching their kids on their home cameras.

But keeping an eye on the kids isn’t a recent technology phenomenon. Two in five parents said they also search through their child’s room the old-fashioned way to make sure they aren’t hiding anything.

For more than half (54 percent) of parents, technology allows them to connect with their children no matter where their kids are – with 49 percent relying on tech to know where their children are and who exactly they are hanging out with. In fact, for 81 percent of parents, technology has helped them be more involved in keeping track of their child’s activities.

“The survey results demonstrate the increasingly integral role that technology plays in parenting children,” said Bettie Colombo, spokesperson for Asurion. “But keeping up with the latest devices, apps and software to help parent can be daunting and confusing.  Asurion’s trained experts provide device, setting, and app suggestions to help parents keep their kids safe online and in the real world – all via the convenience of their smartphone.”

1Random double-opt in online survey of 2,000 U.S. adults conducted Oct. 25 – Nov. 1, 2018 for Asurion by OnePoll, a market research company and corporate member of ESOMAR and adheres to the MRS code of conduct.

About Asurion

As the world’s leading tech care company, Asurion eliminates the fears and frustrations associated with technology, to ensure our 300 million customers get the most out of their devices, appliances and connections. We provide insurance, repair, replacement, installation and 24/7 support for everything from cellphones to laptops and household appliances. Our experts are available online, on the phone, at one of our more than 700 stores, or can even come to you.

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