A few years ago, it was more common for parents to sit down and have a face-to-face talk with their child if an issue had to be resolved.
Now, it's becoming a finger-to-keypad conversation as social media and smartphones continue to change the way families communicate.
The shifting relationship between kids, their parents and the digital world was the focus of "The Social Family" session during Social Media Week Toronto SMWTO.
The event featured a range of panellists from teens to parents that discussed issues, and changes in the digital world and how it relates to families.
While social media and new tech gadgets can be a challenge for parents to manage with their kids, at least one panellist saw the benefits in technology.
Panellist and psychotherapist Alyson Schafer revealed how she held a deep discussion with her teen daughter. At first, Schafer wanted to talk in person with her teen.
But the younger Schafer preferred to talk over instant messaging from separate rooms in the same house. About 15 minutes later, they found a resolution.
Schafer says instant messaging can be better way to talk for serious issues, because eye to eye contact can be very threatening.
"Those things (instant messaging) improve communication," she says. "I don't think there's a downside. It's just the format that's changing."
The panellists also discussed the practice of limiting (online, mobile, device) screen time.
Teen panellist Shagana Balasubramaniam says parents send the wrong message when they tell their kids to only use a device for a limited period of time.
"You're really telling the opposite to your child," says Balasubramaniam, who admits she rebels and uses a computer even more when told to crack down.
Fellow teen panellist Michael Cheung agrees saying kids need to learn self discipline on their own, when it comes to distractions like the web or video games.
"I think what's really important is knowing when to stop," says Cheung. "You have to learn self-control. Limiting screen time takes that away from you."
When asked whether parents should be Facebook friends with their kids, one expert said yes – but it depends how active the digital "friendship" is.
Vice president of Kiwi Commons Ryan Moreau compared "the friendship" to a parent taking their kids to the mall.
While parents may shop in the same mall, they don't follow their kids around along with his or her friends to each store, listening to what they say all the time.
"They know I'm there (on Facebook), but I don't need to know everything they do," Moreau says. Children just need to be aware that their parents are around the digital space.
