The Hidden Burden: Moms' Unpaid Digital Care Work Takes a Toll
Mothers face the hidden burden of overseeing and managing their children's digital lives, according to a study published in the journal New Media & Society. This "unpaid digital care work" involves intense and constant monitoring, establishing rules and boundaries, and negotiating with skeptical partners. Mothers invest considerable time, energy, and emotional toll in ensuring their children's responsible digital citizenship. While the digital umbilical cord helps mothers stay in touch and keep their children safe, it can also provoke anxiety. The increased use of digital devices impacts mothers' career choices and paid work patterns, highlighting the need for further research on the unacknowledged time mothers spend on their children's digital care.