Children are helping their parents navigate the digital age up to 40 percent of the time, according to a recent study HealthDay reported.
Researchers from the Diego Portales University in Santiago, Chile found that 30 to 40 percent of parents were taught how to use the computer and internet from their children, according to a news release.
After conducting in-depth interviews with 14 parent/child sets and surveying 242 parent/child sets, researchers found that youth influenced their parents in computer, mobile internet and social networking. Parent's also learned how to use technologies by self-experimentation.
Based on the results of the study, this process if more likely to occur with mothers lower socioeconomic families. Researchers said this is similar to what happens among low-income immigrant families where the children act as "language and culture links" between the family and new environment, according to a press release.
"The fact that this bottom-up technology transmission occurs more frequently among women and lower-SES families has important implications," researcher Teresa Correa said in a statement. "Women and poor people usually lag behind in the adoption and usage of technology."
Researchers said digital media represents a new environment for lower socioeconomic families and the children from poorer families were more likely to receive input about technology from school and friends. Children go back home and teach their parents, HealthDay reported.
"Many times, they do not have the means to acquire new technologies but, most importantly, they are less likely to have the knowledge, skills, perceived competence, and positive attitudes toward digital media," Correa said.
She added that the results from the study suggest that schools in lower-income areas should be considered in "government or foundation-led intervention programs that promote usage of digital media."
The study was published in the Journal of Communication.
