--- title: "What Your Kids Can Teach You About Social Media" id: "32424" type: "post" slug: "what-your-kids-can-teach-you-about-social-media" published_at: "2016-03-10T22:43:42+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T15:40:55+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/03/10/what-your-kids-can-teach-you-about-social-media/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/03/10/what-your-kids-can-teach-you-about-social-media.md" excerpt: "A study reveals what the younger generation expects of their elders when it comes to technology. Plus: Complain away, it’s OK." taxonomy_category: - "Learning" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "kids" - "Social Media" - "Technology" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » What Your Kids Can Teach You About Social Media The ways in which our social media use can interfere with our relationships was one of the hotter topics at last year’s ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition, thanks to a [provocative closing general session by psychologist Sherry Turkle](http://associationsnow.com/2015/08/less-tweeting-talking-empathy-shelly-turkle/) . Now, a new study suggests that, by and large, our kids may agree with her. [According to the study (opens in a new tab)](http://yardi.people.si.umich.edu/pubs/Schoenebeck_FamilyTechRules16.pdf) [PDF] by researchers at the University of Michigan and the University of Washington, kids are serious and sensible about the kinds of social media rules they’d give their parents. The study—which included children [ages 10 to 17, from 249 families (opens in a new tab)](http://ns.umich.edu/new/releases/23590-technology-rules-what-kids-expect-of-parents) , discussing the technology rules they have to live by—flipped the conversation by asking the kids how they believe their parents should handle technology. Kids’ rules for their parents included being present in a given situation, using technology in moderation, and not using a device while driving, among other issues. And they wanted their parents to follow the same rules they set for their kids. It used to be a lot easier to control technology usage in the home, the study noted. “Managing kids’ technology use was once much easier for parents,” said [Alexis Hiniker (opens in a new tab)](http://www.futurity.org/phones-families-rules-1117462-2/) . “They switched off the television when a show was over or kept an eye on kids as they used the family computer in the living room.” But the new world of ubiquitous technology has raised concerns for both sides of the parent-child relationship. ### The Benefits of Complaining https://twitter.com/FixWMATA/status/707935338912731136 **Complaining is the worst, right?** It’s annoying to hear, but for the complainer it can be productive and effective to vent. But Kristin Wong at *Lifehacker* says the method of complaining matters. [See what it’s all about (opens in a new tab)](http://lifehacker.com/don-t-be-afraid-to-complain-1763933610) . ### Links for Your Day **Don’t expect journalists to stay objective.** Pulitzer Prize winner Steve Woodward [tells CBC News (opens in a new tab)](http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/objective-journalism-new-media-1.3484499) that authenticity is a more important trait these days, so journalists might throw out an opinion here or there. **Nabbing a hotel room at a major event** can be tough. And “[room block pirates](http://associationsnow.com/2014/04/planners-beware-lookout-room-block-pirates/) ” can make matters worse. Virtual’s Association Management Blog tells you [how to protect your next meeting from housing scams (opens in a new tab)](http://blog.virtualmgmt.com/how-to-prevent-room-block-pirates-from-hijacking-your-next-event) . **Ephemeral mobile app Snapchat** is getting away with being difficult for older folks to grasp. Despite alienating part of its potential audience, the business is worth $16 billion. Max Chafkin and Sarah Frier [dove into the Snapchat business (opens in a new tab)](http://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-how-snapchat-built-a-business/) for *Bloomberg Business*. (iStock/Thinkstock) [Patrick deHahn](https://associationsnow.com/author/patrick-dehahn/) Patrick deHahn is a contributor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/patrick-dehahn/) Tags: [#kids](https://associationsnow.com/tag/kids/) [#Social Media](https://associationsnow.com/tag/social-media/) [#Technology](https://associationsnow.com/tag/technology/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [VideoAmerican College of Emergency Physicians: ACEP Geriatric Emergency Department Accreditation ProgramSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/american-college-of-emergency-physicians-acep-geriatric-emergency-department-accreditation-program/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents Practical AI-How Associations Are Putting It To WorkJanuary 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/01/29/associations-now-presents-practical-ai-how-associations-are-putting-it-to-work/) - [PodcastWhy Associations Must Rethink Learning and Community TogetherMarch 26, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/03/26/why-associations-must-rethink-learning-and-community-together/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2016%2F03%2F10%2Fwhat-your-kids-can-teach-you-about-social-media%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !