Computers, Phones and the Internet: Domesticating Information Technology

Ch. 15. Control, Emancipation and Status: The Mobile Telephone in Teens' Parental and Peer Group Control Relationships. Rich Ling and Brigitte Yttri

ABSTRACT:

Our research focuses on adolescents’ interactions with parents and peers from a power perspective. We find that parental interactions have dimensions of Weberian power, but can also be seen in ritual forms that follow from Goffman and Collins’ analysis. In addition, peer group interactions have many ritual and symbolic aspects. The introduction of the mobile telephone has changed how these power relations are carried out. The primary data for this analysis comes from interviews with teens. The analysis also includes some broader quantitative analyses based on random samples of Norwegian teens.

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