| Summary: | The evolution of mobile technologies has penetrated into the lives of Singaporeans, as the country has one of the highest smartphone penetration rates in the world. This definitely has profound impacts on family lives. This study thus aims to understand how power and authority play out in the family as a result of the shift. It was found that parents retain their legitimacy in exerting parental control on their children’s mobile usage although the control take the form of not allowing their child to exceed mobile limits of telecommunication plans, which they do not see as control but inculcation of values. However, power is not one-directional, with children having freedom over usage of their phones and the chance to explain for their actions Finally, with the shift towards smartphones, there is a possibility that control is extended towards surveillance on online social media.
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