“My mom just wants to know where I am”: Estonian pre-teens’ perspectives on intimate surveillance by parents

Abstract

ABSTRACT Inspired by the communication privacy management theory the aim of our study was to explore pre-teens’ viewpoints and experiences related to their parents’ usage of child-tracking technologies. Relying on Q methodology and semi-structured individual interviews with 8- to 13-year-old Estonian pre-teens (n = 20) who were aware of parental tracking, we will present perspectives for understanding children’s viewpoints on intimate surveillance. Three participant perspectives emerged: Compliant Child, Autonomous Child, and Privacy-Sensitive Child. Although children in our sample viewed parents as their confidants and did not consider such tracking to breach their privacy boundaries, they expected these boundaries to be negotiated and collectively set within a family. IMPACT SUMMARY Prior State of Knowledge: Intimate surveillance of children has become a normalized part of present-day parenting practices. The use of tracking technologies can limit children’s experiences and have negative consequences for children’s privacy as well as parent-child relations. Novel Contributions: Empirical research on tracking technologies seldom focuses on the opinions and experiences of tracking technology users, nor on the views children have of these practices. The current study does both, using Q methodology as a novel means for capturing children’s subjective perspectives. Practical Implications: Our findings have implications for parents considering use of tracking technologies, encouraging a move toward a family climate more supportive of child autonomy.