International Journal of Arts & Sciences,

CD-ROM. ISSN: 1944-6934 :: 09(02):615–622 (2016)

THE LEVEL OF TOLERANCE SANCTIONING CHILDREN USING

GADGETS BY PARENTS LEAD TO NOMOPHOBIA: EARLY AGE
GADGETS EXPOSURE

Noorshahira Mohd Fadzil, Mohd Yusof Abdullah and Mohd Azul Mohamad Salleh

National University of Malaysia, Malaysia

The evolution of technology communication nowadays has revolutionized the communication pattern in
the family, yet slowly demolished the old-fashioned pattern of its own. Malaysian children in millennia
generation are no longer familiar with traditional games such as marbles, hide and seek, and police and
thief, as they are obsessed with their virtual world. This kind of trend is really worried. Examining the
lifestyle of today is worrying. Children nowadays have been adopted by the culture of technology
dependency regardless the process of monitoring by parents. The adoption of this kind of new culture
resulting changes that occur in the communication process between children and parents due to the
technological advances. The usage of gadgets among children has its own advantages also
disadvantages. But to be precise, how important these gadgets towards the children should be
reconsidered. Gadgets have been one of the tools by most parents as to keep their children under
control. The objectives of this study are to identify the function of gadgets in the quality time with
family and to understand whether the communication in the family shaped by the gadget usage or vice
versa. The present study was applied convenience-sampling online survey conducted amongst 140
married students from MARA University of Technology (UiTM) in Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia.
The respondents were conducted on full-time bachelor degree, masters and doctorate students of Mass
Communication who were married and have kids aged of three to 12 years old. From the findings, 91
percent of the study subjects were allowing their children to use gadgets as early as three years old. 77
percent of them used gadgets in the home though during quality time with family (weekends, family-
day-out, family gathering). 74 percent of the respondents admit gadgets makes their children under
control and fully functioned as the second nanny when they are busy. Only 15 percent bought their
children very own gadget before the age of 12. This usage of mobile phone is increasing day by day in
numbers as well as in per hour per person usage. This too much or unusual use or unsafe usage has
become to an extent of addiction or phobia.

Keywords: Mobile phone, Family, Communication, Gadgets, Nomophobia.

Introduction

From the social point of view, new technology or information technology promises changes in methods of
communication and the achievement of results. Advances in telecommunications such as telephone, radio
and television have given changes to the individual or society (Mokhtar Muhammad, 2008). Wayne
Warbuton and Kate Highfield (2012) explains that the technology and media are in line with the use of



615
616 The Level of Tolerance Sanctioning Children Using Gadgets by Parents Lead to Nomophobia ...

the media by children has its own advantages and disadvantages. In fact, it is also quite difficult to
forecast and distinguish the effect by the media and by technology because both represent a platform
between each other. Interaction with the technology is dependent on the type of communication devices
and provide opportunities to the users (children) to play actively and a range of constructive activities.
Earlier, most of the media resources related to children are as passive users, but with technology
nowadays, children are able to interact actively with technical equipment available. Technology also
allows parents to control and monitoring in the use of communication devices and the content of the
gadget towards the children.
Children are part of a society that is very important, which is an asset of the country and the heart of
the country's development in the future. In Malaysia, a child is defined as a person under the age of 18 as
stipulated in the Convention on the Rights of the child and the Child Act 2001 (Ministry of Information
Malaysia, 2008). Nor Aziah in one of the local newspapers (known as Sinar Harian) supports the
statement and added, most of the people in Malaysia are confused with the definition of a child as
defining the child is under 12 years of age. However, according to Islamic law, the definition of the child
is for men experienced puberty through dreams, while females are experiencing menstrual (the
availability to be pregnant) (Muhammad Shamsul, 2014). The United Nations Children's Emergency
Fund (UNICEF) in the Article 1 also defines children as individuals aged 18 years and below, unless the
law in a country set the specific age to be called children (UNICEF, 2008).
An alpha generation or also known as Gene-A is the generation of children born starting in the year
2010 to 2024 (McCrindle, 2009). Gen-A is the most highly educated generation. They began to go to
school as early as the age of three to four-year-old, and graduating from the as early age of 27 years old.
Review the by the expert of Sociology stated that Gene-A is the most educated generation in the history
of man. According to Mark McCrindle and Wolfinger (2009) in his book The ABC of XYZ stated that
Gene-A is expected to be more materialistic and their focus is on the high-tech lifestyle. Gene-A is the
son of generation Y and Z, which is more affordable in terms of finances, with a small number of
children. Half of toys owned by Gene-A are powered by batteries which are more expensive than ordinary
toys. This generation began to recognize their lives with the smartphone, iPad, computer, Playstation,
Wii, Xbox, Google, Facebook, and blogs. Mark McCrindle and Emily Wolfinger (2009) also told through
his experience, that their nephew already knows how to use the iPad when he just age of eight months.
Meanwhile, the children who were born in 1995 to 2009 known as Generation Z. According to Mark
McCrindle, Gene-Z is the popularity era of wireless technology, MP3 players, plasma TV and LCD
screen. Generation Z is born to the family of a very proper, slightly aged parents, and has a number of
little siblings (Employee Assistance Society of Australia, 2008). This generation started the school at an
early age (aged 4 to 5 years) and am not much spending time outdoor activities. In fact, parents put longer
priority time to be at home, to teach kids, together to complete their school work, and spend time on
recreational activities together. In addition, parents being much more alert on consent practice to their
child while playing with friends in the playground and neighborhood area. According to McCrindle,
Gene-Z becomes mature faster because they grow faster. The World Health Organization (WHO) expects
this generation of children will reach puberty three months earlier for each decade (McCrindle and
Wolfinger, 2009). Gene-Z is the class of literacy, technology, trained to become faster in carrying out
many tasks at a time, but considerably less in terms of efficiency. They only recognize hyperlinks,
wireless world, where they are just a few clicks from any kind of knowledge and the outside world.
Clara (2013) defines mobile devices as a mobile mechanical tool in small sizes. Based on the
purpose, there are several types of devices that are generally used at various ages of society, namely,
smartphone, laptop, and tablet computers like Apple's iPad and the Samsung Tablet. The smartphone is
one famous phone mobile device around the world. The majority of communities throughout the world,
particularly in developing and developed countries already able to have at least a smartphone because of
the affordable price. There are four brands of smartphone application has become the trend in the market
i.e. IPhone, Android, Blackberry, and Windows. Every major brand of smartphones offers different
applications in a variety of shapes, types, and software. While in Malaysia, it has been said fares had
better in the mobile landscape compared to most Southeast Asia countries, even United States with 140
 Noorshahira Mohd Fadzil et al. 617

percent mobile penetration. As the latest data provided by the Web, 35 percent are the smartphone
penetration in Malaysia. It means that 10 million of Malaysian subscribed for 3G networks. (On Device,
2014).
Nomophobia literally means ‘no mobile phobia' that is the fear of being out of mobile phone contact
(Barney, March 31, 2008). It is the condition of a person getting anxious when they are in an area of no
network, has run out of balance or even worse run out of battery, the persons get anxious, which
adversely affects their concentration (Bivin, Mathew, Thulasi, and Philip, 2013). According to Dixit,
Shukla, and Shrivastava (2010) nomophobia is a practice of addiction disorder towards mobile phones
and demonstrated as symptoms of psychological as well as physical dependency. The trend of
dependency or high reliability on mobile phones was one of the key trends to retain the dynamic growth
of mobile phones' sales. Despite being small in size, the device has an endless power on lifestyles of
human communication and socializing (Device Research, 2014). Without realized, millions apparently
suffer from nomophobia (London Evening Standard, March 31, 2008).
Malaysia's mobile landscape is performing better than most Southeast Asian countries and with 140
percent mobile penetration, 47 percent Malaysian own more than one mobile phone. The figure shows
Malaysia's mobile landscape is performing better than most Southeast Asian countries and with 140
percent mobile penetration with 47 percent Malaysian own more than one mobile phone. Millions
apparently suffer from nomophobia (London Evening Standard, March 31, 2008).

Research Objective

i. To identify the function of gadgets in the quality time with family

ii. To understand whether the communication in the family shaped by the gadget usage or vice
versa.

Literature Review

The media play an important role in the lives of children, and so on in the family life. Notwithstanding
anything else stated that the media is a necessity in the lives of adults, but the amount of time provided by
the children and parents using media become as tool measurement and level determination interest of the
media in a family. Child Development expert, Badges Mastura (Dr.) explains addiction against the use of
iPad, tablets, and other devices firmly spread among children and that is the main challenge faced by
parents to educate and raise this at globalization. According to her, undoubtedly computer games have
benefits to children include learning process for the little ones, the exploration of a variety of information
and social relations in the context of virtual. It is also able to stimulate skills children to concentrate and
training which is good for fine motor skills' development. In the article published by one local newspaper
in Malaysia, he also describes the learning experience felt by children through this software is not an
experience of concrete while the child has been given the opportunity to undergo a meaningful learning
experience through exploration, and make experiments help them the better concrete understanding form
of concept, rather than abstract (Riadz 2005, 2007).
While research from Microsoft found families in Asia less in monitoring process while devices on
children. Previous research showed that more than half of respondents, 53 percent, of all countries in Asia
admit their family is not put conditions or limit use of technology gadgets at home (Mediabuzz, 2011).
Only a small number that puts conditions and monitoring of the use of the internet, which is 29 percent,
and 22 percent of the total respondents in the rest of the Asian countries to do so. Thailand has the highest
number of respondents on monitoring children while playing video games with 34 percent of the total
respondents who put conditions on the use of technology gadgets at home. Respondents from the
Philippines strictly control their children in terms of the duration (number of hours) used on the internet
(29 per cent).
618 The Level of Tolerance Sanctioning Children Using Gadgets by Parents Lead to Nomophobia ...

For children aged five years and above on the other hand, if they are too obsessed with games and
applications in mobile devices such as the iPad, this will also affect the focus of their learning while in
class. They will keep remembering devices concerned. In terms of interaction and communication, on the
other hand, these children will become even more introverted, less patient, and poor interpersonal and
interpersonal communication skills (Siti A'ishah, 2014).
In the article written by Riadz Radzi (2007) emphasizes that parents fit to stimulate children to make
use of the five senses, but when playing with the computer, only two senses used which is the eyes and
ears. At the same time, computer games will keep them away from the relationship of nature and the
world around them. They also have an impact in terms of health, especially in the aspects of vision and
nerve tension within the long run. Children are also potentially being obese because they do not use
physical movement when playing. Games through mobile devices are very less features of humanity
because there are no touch, soul, and features showing love, that can be learned naturally from electronic
devices, while the main aspects in the development and education of children, especially in the early stage
of age are the formation of personality, social skills, emotional aspects of enhancement and application of
social-spiritual values.
Based on the expert of Children Early Education in Management and Technology University,
Malaysia, Bustam Kamri mentioned the huge amount of gadgets such as laptops, tabs and smartphones
turned to be a phenomenon which cannot be stopped. This is because the technology will continue on the
same track with the level of country's modernization. To state either the existence of the apps will affect
on kids' emotional and socialization, it will depend on how they use it. Previous studies have proven the
exceed the usage of computer can reduce the level of creativity of the kids. However, the researcher does
not agree with the statement as it was not the blame on the kids alone. Not all educators and parents
received the of exposure on how to choose the right gadgets, apps, or even the duration that their kids
should be aware of.
Fiese, Foley and Spagnola (2006) stressed dinner with the family will give a huge impact towards
kids' health and their development. This idea supported by Doherty (1999) by saying dinner is the best
time in order to strength the relation of family members. Fulkerson, Neumark-Sztainer and Story (2006)
agreed with their point as dinner is one of the important mechanisms in developing the relation. The
researcher settled down with the idea of the point that parents should make rules the in the home of their
own. As parents, they have the power to decide for their kids. For example, they should stress to their
kids' gadgets as the prohibiting item during dinner time; reduce the usage of handphones, smartphones,
tabs, iGadgets, no matter during tea time, dinner, or some quality time with family. At the same time,
parents should not have to be too strict as it is undeniable technology is also an important ‘tools' in life.
The parents with school kids should put limits for their kids in using gadgets, like, an hour or two in a
day.
It was so obvious when parents, especially, use gadgets as the medium to make their kids under
control. In other words, gadget as the second nanny. It has been a norm to see parents in restaurants
handling the gadgets to their kids, or worst open apps or YouTube for their kids so that they can eat
peacefully (Jordan, 2006). It raises questions from the researcher, does it because of all things can be
easier with one click makes parents take advantage as it is, or is it look a fool if they do not allow their
kids to use the gadgets? In other countries, also happen in Malaysia, there are so many articles and reports
about parents use gadgets as their control ‘tools'. Previous researches have been done on this matter as
early as the 1960s but were in different medium – television. The finding of the research from Hess and
Goldman (1962) found out mother with kids will use television to keep their kids under control. It does
prove television was used to be a great tool to control kids, and ease parents' jobs. Another research from
Gantz (1982) can be concluded as plenty of boring-repeated-housework mothers has been the main factor
television has been used as a nanny. Another research in the same era from Gantz and Masland (1986)
shows at least one hour of watching television has been used by the mother to keep their kids in good
behavior.
The disorder termed of nomophobia to describe the serious level mobile phone addiction, created
during a study (Barney, March 31, 2008) in Britain to see concerns underwent by mobile phone users.
 Noorshahira Mohd Fadzil et al. 619

It is a result of the development of new technologies that enable virtual communication. King, Valença,
and Nardi (2010) categorized the varieties and differences of nomophobia are on the clinical
characteristics: the technological device can be used in an impulsive way as a protective shell, shield, as a
transitional object, or as a means for avoiding social communication.
On the other hand, Dr. Brian Johnson, director of addiction psychiatry at SUNY Upstate Medical
School in Syracuse, New York clarified that nomophobia and addiction are different concepts as the
differences between highly engaged and addicted players. Meanwhile, nomophobia could be part of an
anxiety disorder and its becomes a problem when it causes trouble. According to Lerner (2012) among
signs that nomophobia requires medical attention including:
i. High-intensity anxiety or panic over losing his/her phone;
ii. Compulsive checking for the phone;
iii. Using phone in inappropriate places, and
iv. Missing out on opportunities for face-to-face interaction.
At present, there is not much information about nomophobia. For consumers and businesses alike,
having a working mobile phone is critical (Bivin et al., 2013). With the most accessible on the internet
through the mobile phone, the addiction pattern related to the gadget has been seen as normal despite the
concerns relating the nomophobia phenomenon as a serious behavioral addiction has increased. A study
also found that teenagers to individuals in their twenties would more imply in that problem compare to
those in their thirties to forties. The situations become worse with the increase of the development of
various hardware, software, and different applications for the smartphones to suit today's modern and
hectic lifestyle. This change is beyond our imagination.
Mobile telephony has been widely adopted by young people, indeed teens have been integral in the
development of texting as a form of interaction. They have also helped to develop mobile telephone
terminals as a type of fashion accessory (Fortunati, 2005: Ling, 2004). The adoption and use of the mobile
telephone have reshaped some of the issues associated with the adolescents' transition from their families
of orientation. It has changed the ways in which teens interact with peers, and thus it has changed the way
in which the process of emancipation takes place.
The process of adolescent emancipation is an artifact of modern society. In traditional society, there
was intergenerational stability. The teen might have learned their adult role at the hand of a parent or
about another related adult in a master or apprentice relationship. With modern industrial society, the
dynamics of change are so rapid that the life experience of the child is necessarily different from that of
the parent. There are constantly new techniques and new technologies. The social, as well as the
employment situation of the child, is different from that of the parent. The child cannot expect that the
knowledge and skills of the parent will be serviceable during their careers. This is needed to be modified
and adjusted to emergent situations.
It is important to note that not all the effects have necessarily been positive. Research has shown, for
example, the covariance between teen criminality and mobile telephone use. Heavy users of mobile
telephony are overrepresented among those who are involved in various forms of deviance, such as
fighting, alcohol, and narcotics use, various forms of theft (Ling, 2005b: Pedersen and Samuelsen, 2003).
In these cases, there is not necessarily a linear relationship between deviant activity and mobile
phone use. Rather, it is those persons who are extremely heavy users of mobile telecommunications, and
in particular voice communication, not text; who are the most likely to else engage in these forms of
deviance. In addition, the material shows a broader correlation between sexuality and mobile phone use.
In this case, the relationship is rather more linear. That is, as the use of mobile communication increases,
there is a broadly similar rise in the proclivity to have engaged in sexual activity. The exact mechanism,
which encourages the correlation, is not necessarily well understood. It is likely that the enhanced ability
to coordinate trysts facilitates the ability to engage in sexual behavior. Putting this into the broader issue
of media effects, it is easy to see that heavy use of this particular medium, such as the mobile telephone,
seems to have had the effect of facilitating sexuality among all too willing teens.
620 The Level of Tolerance Sanctioning Children Using Gadgets by Parents Lead to Nomophobia ...

Methodology

This research applied convenience-sampling online survey method. Therefore, results obtained based on
convenience sample should not be considered accurate, but may be very informed about the range of
opinions found in the population. However, it is not about the proportions in which such opinions are
found in the population.
The study was a convenience-sampling online survey study conducted amongst 140 young adults
from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Shah Alam, Selangor, Malaysia. The respondents were
conducted on full-time bachelor degree students of Mass Communication students who were married and
have kids aged of three to 12 years old. Previously, a pilot study has been done on 30 different
respondents from the same faculty. The Cronbach's alpha for the pilot test was .888.

Findings

Section A
Gender. The study population comprised 53 percent males and 47 percent females. There was no
procedure applied in order to get respondents. The respondents are choosing based on the voluntary
concept.
Family income. 24 percent gaining salary RM1,000 to RM3,000 ($246.76 to $740.27), 22 percent for the
salary of RM3,001 to RM5,000 ($740.52 to $1233.79), and 54 percent above RM5,001 ($1,234.04).
Exposure to mobile technology. From all respondents, 18 percent of them exposed gadgets to kids as
early as one to three years old, 61 percent started to expose to their kids at six years old, and 21 percent
taught their kids to use gadgets after six years old.
The usage of smartphones. It can be concluded by Messenger and SNS 55.6 percent, entertainment 21.1
percent, Web surfing 43 percent, and others 83 percent.

Section B
Based on the findings:
i. Majority: 91 percent of the study subjects were allowing their children to use gadgets as early as
three years old;
ii. 77 percent of them used gadgets in the home though during quality time with family (weekends,
family-day-out, family gathering);
iii. 74 percent of respondents admit gadgets makes their children under control and fully functioned
as the second nanny when they are busy.
iv. A few (15 percent) reported bought their children very own gadget before the age of 12.
The pie chart depicts that majority (64 percent) of the study subjects are at risk for developing
Nomophobia and 23 percent of them are Nomophobes.
Percentage of nomophobes among
respondents
13%
Normal

Nomophobes
23%
Atriskof
64% nomophobes

Figure 1. Distribution of study subjects based on the Nomophobia severity

 Noorshahira Mohd Fadzil et al. 621

In this study, the researchers have highlighted some of the most salient effects of mobile telephony
on individuals. By framing the discussion from the perspective of the technology effects, the researchers
have emphasized a directional flow of influence from the technology to society.
Indeed, there are important areas of social change that come out of the diffusion and use of mobile
telephony, including changes in how people coordinate their lives, carry out social relations, make private
use of public space, and so forth. However, it is important to acknowledge that the direction of influence
also flows the other way. Just as the technology has effects on its users, as well as the non-users, so too do
these individuals have important effects on the technology.
There is a robust body of literature in the field of science and technology studies that establishes how
technologies are socially constructed by those who develop, use, and even reject them. This is especially
true with innovations in communication since a fundamental outcome of communication itself is that
people rub off on one another. Human beings are socially contagious in how they think and how they act.
As a result, how people think about and use technologies, such as the mobile phone, is a product of
social context and social contact. Without doubt, studying the effects of mobile communication, in this
case Nomophobia, parents as the caused, and kids as the so-called ‘victims', is an important endeavor as it
focuses on attention on the impact of a medium, especially in the mobile communication system, on what
might otherwise be directed interpersonal interaction.
Adoption and use of the technology bring about important changes in how people relate to each other
and go about their daily lives, and family relationship, thus how they shape their communication in the
family day by day. However, it is important for researchers to be mindful that these effects are not solely
attributable to the technology or exposure to it.
The effects and uses of mobile media are situated in social context and shaped by social forces. Yet,
users of technology, especially youngest users, kids, have developed innovative appropriations and
language patterns to support the emergent ‘thumb culture' (Glotz, Bertschi, and Locke: 2005). While the
effects of mobile media are clearly profound, so too are the effects of those who shape how the
technology is perceived and used.
This study showed that more than half of the respondents (parents and kids) surveyed felt very
dependent upon gadgets. Parents need them as kids control, while kids need them for their pleasure and
entertainment tools. They feeling the need to have their phones on them 24 hours or using their phones
every day. This will have caused them to feel anxious, disconnected, or even upset if they did not use and
utilize it in their future and daily live. In general, gadgets have both pros and cons to our society.
They make the people's lives and works become more easy and smooth, we are connected around the
clock and globe (Singh et al., 2013). Yet, mobile phones still impact badly on health, time, and
communication of individuals. To avoid these problems, each person, as well as society, have to take
some precaution like usage of mobiles to the minimum and it must be used as it is supposed to be rather
than as multipurpose gadget.

References

1. Antonius. R. (2013). Interpreting Quantitative Data with IBM SPSS Statistics. 2nd ed. London: Sage. Ball-
Rokeach, S.J., & DeFleur, M.L. (1976). A dependency model or mass media effects. Communication
Research, 3, 3-21.
2. Barney, K. (March 31, 2008). Phone-reliant Britons in the grip of nomophobia. Retrieved Jun 22, 2014, from
http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/showthread.php?98014-Phone-reliant-Britons-in-the-grip-of-nomo-phobia
3. Bivin, B. V., Mathew, P., Thulasi, P. C., & Philip, J. (2013). Nomophobia: Do We Really Need to worry
about? Review of Progress, 1(1), 2-5.
4. Bragazzi, N. L. (2014). A proposal for including nomophobia in the new DSM-V. Psychology Research and
Behavior Management, 7, 155-160.
5. Device Research. (2014). With 140% mobile penetration, Malaysia has 10M smartphone users Retrieved Jun
23, 2014, from http://e27.co/140-mobile-penetration-malaysia-10m-smartphone-users/
622 The Level of Tolerance Sanctioning Children Using Gadgets by Parents Lead to Nomophobia ...

6. Dixit, S., Shukla, H., & Shrivastava, A. (2010). A Study to Evaluate Mobile Phone Dependence Among
Students of a Medical College and Associated Hospital of Central India. Indian Journal of Community
Medicine: Official Publication of Indian Association of Preventive and Social Medicine, 35(2), 339-341.
7. Jewkes R, Sikweyiya Y, Morrell R, & Dunkle K. (2011). Gender Inequitable Masculinity and Sexual
Entitlement in Rape Perpetration South Africa: Findings of a Cross-Sectional Study. Retrieved July 4, 2014,
from http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0029590
8. King, A. L., Valença, A. M., & Nardi, A. E. (2010). Nomophobia: the mobile phone in panic disorder with
agoraphobia: reducing phobias or worsening of dependence. Cognitive Behavior Neurology, 23(1), 52-54.
9. Lerner, M. (2012). Nomophobia: Is your cellphone addiction covered? Retrieved July 3, 2014, from
http://www.insurance.com/health-insurance/other-health-insurance-topics/cellphone-addiction.html
10. London Evening Standard. (2008). Nomophobia is the fear of being out of mobile phone contact - and it's the
plague of our 24/7 age, London Evening Standard. Retrieved from
http://www.standard.co.uk/news/nomophobia-is-the-fear-of-being-out-of-mobile-phone-contact--and-its-the-
plague-of-our-247-age-6634478.html
11. Market Analysis and Consumer Research Organization. (2014). A report on study of mobile phone usage
among the teenagers and youth in Mumbai. (Vol. April-May ). Mumbai, India MACRO.
12. Singh, B., Gupta, R., & Garg, R. (2013). Mobile phones; A Boon or Bane For Mankind? Behavior of Medical
Students. International Journal of Innovative Research and Development, 2(4), 196-205.