Date | May 2018 | Marks available | 6 | Reference code | 18M.2.SL.TZ0.3 |
Level | SL | Paper | 2 (model questions) | Time zone | no time zone |
Command term | Compare and contrast | Question number | 3 | Adapted from | N/A |
Question
Resource booklet: Responsible mobile device usage
Source A
Source B
Data from two separate samples of teenagers aged 13 to 16. The samples were taken in the USA and included 1014 participants in 2013 and 1215 in 2019.
Source C
The Family Sense app (see Figure 1) is designed to make families aware of how long they spend interacting with their mobile devices and encourage them to limit their screen time.
Figure 1: The Family Sense app
The app collects information from each device. It logs data, such as how many times the device has been picked up, which apps are most frequently used, and how much overall time is spent on the device. This information is stored on the device and shared with all the family.
The Family Sense app allows daily limits to be set for each family member. It also allows anyone in the family to enforce a one-hour period of screen-free time. People can still make and receive telephone calls, listen to music, etc., with their screens turned off, but the device will make a loud alarm sound if they try to use it for anything else.
Source D
Extract from a school newsletter to parents and caregivers on responsible mobile phone use for children and teenagers
Dear parents and caregivers,
If your child has a mobile phone, we encourage you to discuss and agree on mobile phone usage rules that focus on safety issues and healthy habits. Some discussion points you might consider are:
- cyberbullying
- using social media
- access to unsuitable content on the internet
- only responding to known phone numbers/callers
- sharing of personal information or images
- screen-free time
- data usage.
Respectfully,
Principal Zhang
Compare and contrast the effectiveness of the approaches outlined in Source C and Source D towards the responsible use of mobile devices.
Markscheme
Answers may include:
Type of solution:
- Source C is a technology-based intervention where the usage can be controlled by the app, whereas Source D is a non-technological intervention where the use is controlled by the user. Which may be more effective in promoting responsible use?
Agency:
- Source D encourages input from family members for setting rules; likewise, source C provides data for family discussions and allows anyone to enforce screen-free time. In both cases, each family member has agency in the solution.
Ease of use:
- Source C requires parents to configure the app, and this may not be done correctly so less effective; likewise, the rules created by families (Source D) may not be complete/have gaps/not deal with all eventualities and therefore be less effective.
Monitoring:
- Source C provides evidence of usage, which could lead the discussions on responsible use and rule setting, whereas Source D relies on self-reporting for the discussion and negotiation of rules only with no hard data to determine the effectiveness of the rules.
Data collection:
- The app in Source C could share data/behaviours/insights that may be used to improve/determine the effectiveness of the solution, whereas there is no tangible and immediate method of data collection for third parties in Source D.