UTAUT IN ACTION: EXPLORING EDUCATIONAL MONITORING INTENTIONS THROUGH PARENTAL CONTROL SOFTWARE AMONG GENERATION Y PARENTS IN MALAYSIA
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/IJEPC.1164010Keywords:
Parental Control Software, Generation Y Parents, Educational Monitoring, Technology Adoption, Unified Theory Of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), Digital ParentingAbstract
Despite often having access to smart devices in their daily lives, Malaysian Generation Y parents reveal hesitation to use digital screening software to monitor their children's online behaviour for academic enrichment. This paper attempts to explain the motivating forces behind this deliberate pattern, based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model to test the structural effects of performance expectancy, effort expectancy, interpersonal social pressures and structural conditions available. A web-based questionnaire with a 7-point Likert configuration was employed in collecting the empirical data using a structured quantitative research design, with 310 mothers and fathers aged 29-44 as the subjects sampled in Malaysia. Structural results suggest that interpersonal social factors and infrastructural conditions with ease of access directly influence the intention to use supervision software, while internal factors (performance expectancy and effort expectancy) are not statistically significant. These observations highlight that for this group, external community reinforcement and environmental support frameworks can be more important than conventional evaluations of the utility of applications or ease of use. This inquiry, therefore, proposes important practical guidelines for application designers, government bodies and educational administrators who wish to promote responsible, secure usage of devices in line with educational objectives and on the basis of proactive family engagement.
Downloads
References
Bertrandias, L., Bernard, Y., & Elgaaied-Gambier, L. (2023). How parental control software can enhance parents’ well-being: The role of product features on parental efficacy and stress. Journal of Interactive Marketing, 58(2-3), 280-300.
Commission, M. C. a. M. (2020). Internet users survey 2020. Retrieved from https://www.mcmc.gov.my/skmmgovmy/media/General/pdf/IUS-2020-Report.pdf
David, O. A., Iuga, I. A., & Miron, I. S. (2024). Parenting: There is an app for that. A systematic review of parenting interventions apps. Children and Youth Services Review, 156, 107385.
Doggui, R., Gallant, F., & Bélanger, M. (2021). Parental control and support for physical activity predict adolescents’ moderate to vigorous physical activity over five years. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 18, 1-10.
Dutot, V. (2015). Factors influencing near field communication (NFC) adoption: An extended TAM approach. The Journal of High Technology Management Research, 26(1), 45-57.
Erus, S. M., Satıcı, S. A., & Deniz, M. E. (2025). Uncovering the Links Between Problematic Smartphone Usage and Subjective Vitality: The Role of Mindful Parenting and Parenting Stress. Psychological Reports, 00332941251314718.
Gao, L., & Bai, X. (2014). A unified perspective on the factors influencing consumer acceptance of internet of things technology. Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics.
Hair Jr, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C., & Sarstedt, M. (2016). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM): Sage publications.
Karakose, T., Tülübaş, T., & Papadakis, S. (2022). Revealing the intellectual structure and evolution of digital addiction research: An integrated bibliometric and science mapping approach. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(22), 14883.
Martín-Cárdaba, M. Á., Martínez Díaz, M. V., Lafuente Pérez, P., & García Castro, J. (2024). Smartphone Ownership, Minors’ Well-being, and Parental Mediation Strategies. An Analysis in the Context of Social Media Influencers. Journal of youth and adolescence, 53(10), 2202-2218.
Papadakis, S. (2022). Apps to promote computational thinking and coding skills to young age children: A pedagogical challenge for the 21st century learners. Educational Process: International Journal (EDUPIJ), 11(1), 7-13.
Pinochet, L. H. C., Lopes, E. L., Srulzon, C. H. F., & Onusic, L. M. (2018). The influence of the attributes of “Internet of Things” products on functional and emotional experiences of purchase intention. Innovation & Management Review, 15(3), 303-320.
Schmuck, D., Stevic, A., Matthes, J., & Karsay, K. (2023). Out of control? How parents’ perceived lack of control over children’s smartphone use affects children’s self-esteem over time. New media & society, 25(1), 199-219.
Stewart, K., Brodowsky, G., & Sciglimpaglia, D. (2022). Parental supervision and control of adolescents’ problematic internet use: understanding and predicting adoption of parental control software. Young Consumers, 23(2), 213-232.
Sun, K., Li, J., Zou, Y., Radesky, J., Brooks, C., & Schaub, F. (2024). Unfulfilled promises of child safety and privacy: portrayals and use of children in smart home marketing. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 8(CSCW1), 1-29.
Tseng, T. H., Lin, S., Wang, Y.-S., & Liu, H.-X. (2022). Investigating teachers’ adoption of MOOCs: the perspective of UTAUT2. Interactive Learning Environments, 30(4), 635- 650.
Tülübaş, T., Karakose, T., & Papadakis, S. (2023). A holistic investigation of the relationship between digital addiction and academic achievement among students. European Journal of Investigation in Health, Psychology and Education, 13(10), 2006-2034.
Venkatesh, V., Morris, M. G., Davis, G. B., & Davis, F. D. (2003). User acceptance of information technology: Toward a unified view. MIS quarterly, 425-478.
Wang, G., Zhao, J., Van Kleek, M., & Shadbolt, N. (2021). Protection or punishment? relating the design space of parental control apps and perceptions about them to support parenting for online safety. Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction, 5(CSCW2), 1-26.
Wolfers, L. N. (2021). Parental mobile media use for coping with stress: A focus groups study. Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies, 3(2), 304-315.
Yıldız, E., Keşşafoğlu, D., Altundal, M. N., Akel, G., & Uzundağ, B. A. (2025). Navigating the digital age: Children's self‐regulatory skills and technoference in parent–child interactions. Family Relations.
