Managing unregulated contact in the age of new technology: possible solutions

Simpson, Jennifer

doi:10.1177/0308575913508722

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…In relation to social work practitioners' experiences of young people's use of mobile communication devices and the internet, the literature is primarily concerned with how it affects safeguarding (Boddy and Dominelli, 2016;Breyette and Hill, 2015;Mishna, et al, 2012;Reamer, 2013;Sage and Sage, 2016). While Fursland (2010) refers to the risks in relation to children in care making use of the internet, thereby reinforcing the narrative of risk, Simpson (2013) focuses on why such children pursue unregulated contact and in so doing, draws attention to the possible impact of this on the neural and cognitive development of adolescents and the associated effect on attachment (2013: 382). Simpson (2016) also suggests that a divergence of opinion about the use of mobile devices by young people in care is taking place in child and family social work, which is influencing how practitioners respond to the risks and opportunities afforded by the use of this technology.…”

Section: The Response Of Foster Carers and Social Work Practitioners mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many of these young people enter care in mid-childhood, meaning they are likely to have significant and potentially long-standing relationships with relatives and friends that they will wish to continue, despite being separated from them. It is likely that the ability to remain in contact has been greatly eased in recent years by the use of mobile devices and the internet (Fursland, 2010; Sen, 2015; Simpson, 2013).…”

Section: Children In Carementioning

confidence: 99%

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Twenty-first century contact: the use of mobile communication devices and the internet by young people in care

Simpson

2020

Adoption & Fostering

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This article contributes to the growing area of research appertaining to the use of mobile communication devices and the internet by children in care in order to maintain contact with family and friends. It is based on a triadic method of semi-structured interviews with 12 young people and their foster carers and social work practitioners. The study found that the young people were not passive recipients of their familial and friendship networks and did not deem their interactions as 'contact', perceiving them more as 'staying in touch'. The opportunities provided for this by the new technology enabled immediacy, reach and communication in real time and duration-all features that allowed them to control the 'who, how and when' of their relationships. But despite the potential of the new communication methods to bring cohesion between young people and their relatives, it was not utilised or supported by their foster carers or social work practitioners who tended to view this new channel of communication as a risk or a nuisance.

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Section: The Response Of Foster Carers and Social Work Practitioners mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Children In Carementioning

confidence: 99%

Twenty-first century contact: the use of mobile communication devices and the internet by young people in care

Simpson

2020

Adoption & Fostering

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“…To summarise, one of the authors of this article has published frequently on the use of social media by fostered children to maintain contact with their birth families (Simpson, 2013; 2016; 2017; 2020). Simpson’s studies explain the diverse and inventive uses by children of social media to develop, initiate and maintain links between themselves and their family networks.…”

Section: The Real World and Virtual World: 21st Century Contact And Smentioning

confidence: 99%

A brief history of contact in fostering and adoption: practice and power, and the coming of the mobile phone

Simpson

Clapton

2020

Adoption & Fostering

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This article charts the UK history of contact in fostering and adoption as it relates to looked after children and their birth relatives. It builds on a recent publication in this journal by one of the authors based on her research on the use of social media by children in care. Here we look at previous practices relating to the question of whether or not contact ought to be ‘allowed’ in which words such as ‘access’ were used, betokening the child as object. We also come up to date with reference to contemporary efforts to recast contact as ‘family time’ that is significant in the child’s continuation of understanding of self. Other words in the lexicon are problematised, including ‘contact’ itself. Attention is also devoted to the social work profession's conception and management of contact. We argue that a critical history of contact reveals the various ways that formal and informal power operates to both regulate and discipline those involved, most centrally the child and birth family members. Drawing upon emerging research relating to social media and contact, the article concludes with a discussion of how young people’s access to, and use of, social media has altered, how contact is managed and ‘policed’, and how this has shifted the balance of power in contact towards greater egalitarianism.

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“…Unsupervised contact between youth and their relatives may be a cause for concern. Technology has made it possible for youth to have this contact (Simpson, 2013). The agency may deny youth permission to seek these relatives and suspend Internet privileges.…”

Section: Positive Youth Development and Foster Care Youthmentioning

confidence: 99%

Positive Youth Development and Foster Care Youth: A Digital Perspective

Gustavsson

MacEachron

2015

Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment

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The virtual world of the Internet may be used to support positive youth development. Accessing resources in educational, employment, health, and social domains is enhanced by the ability to effectively use digital technology. Foster youth are at risk for poor developmental outcomes and may face barriers to competent use of the Internet. We discuss the benefits and risks of Internet use and the importance of digital literacy to protect against risks, and we offer suggestions on ways that child welfare agencies, case managers, and foster parents can work with youth to support safe and effective use of digital technology. POSITIVE YOUTH DEVELOPMENTDigital technology can be used to support positive youth development (PYD) through opportunities for learning that increase competence and confidence, by facilitating connections that can provide social support, for exploring the depth and diversity of values as youth develop their own values and character, and for expanding opportunities for caring for others. Foster youth face multiple challenges to the effective use of this increasingly important means of accessing resources and establishing connections with institutions and people. Acquiring the ability to use the Internet must also include the skills for protection and risk reduction that Internet use can present. We describe the potential benefits of Internet use from a PYD perspective and the importance of digital literacy to protect against risks, and we offer suggestions on ways youth as well as child welfare agencies, case managers, and foster parents can work with youth to support safe and effective use of the Internet and social media. FOSTER YOUTH AND THE INTERNETFoster youth, who have experienced maltreatment followed by removal from their family, are at additional risk for placement instability or multiple placements during their average time in care of two years or more (Havlicek, 2011). Changes in placement often mean concurrent disruptions in

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Managing unregulated contact in the age of new technology: possible solutions

Cited by 8 publications

References 15 publications

Twenty-first century contact: the use of mobile communication devices and the internet by young people in care

Twenty-first century contact: the use of mobile communication devices and the internet by young people in care

A brief history of contact in fostering and adoption: practice and power, and the coming of the mobile phone

Positive Youth Development and Foster Care Youth: A Digital Perspective

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